President Joe Biden made history by granting clemency to nearly 2,500 individuals convicted of non-violent drug offenses, marking the largest single-day act of clemency in US history. The commutations were aimed at individuals serving excessively long sentences compared to current standards. Biden described this action as a crucial step in addressing past injustices, rectifying sentencing gaps, and reuniting deserving individuals with their families. In addition to the recent commutations, Biden had previously commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 people and pardoned 39 others. Notably, among those pardoned was his son Hunter, who faced potential imprisonment for gun and tax offenses.
Furthermore, Biden is contemplating the possibility of granting blanket pardons to certain allies and former officials to shield them from possible retribution. In a separate decision, Biden commuted the death sentences of 37 out of 40 inmates on federal death row, excluding three individuals involved in high-profile cases. Meanwhile, former President Trump has signaled intentions to resume federal executions, which were halted during Biden’s tenure.