United States President Joe Biden has granted 39 pardons to Americans convicted of non-violent crimes and commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 others.
This is the largest number of clemency actions issued in a single day, according to the White House. The names of the people involved have not been released.
Under the US Constitution, the president has the power to grant pardons and reprieves, except in cases of impeachment.
In his announcement, Biden said those who received pardons had “shown successful rehabilitation” and were committed to making their communities safer. Many of the pardons were for people convicted of drug offenses.
The commuted sentences were for individuals who had been placed in home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic. These people were facing long sentences under old laws, and Biden said they deserved a second chance.
The White House shared that some of those receiving clemency included a decorated military veteran, a nurse who helped with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, and an addiction counselor.
Biden promised that more steps would be taken in the coming weeks.
In the past, Biden had issued fewer pardons compared to other recent presidents. However, he has made a few significant moves, such as pardoning people convicted of simple marijuana possession in 2022. Earlier this year, he also pardoned military personnel and veterans convicted of crimes related to their sexual orientation.
Biden’s pardoning of his son Hunter, which came earlier this month, was also part of this trend. It sparked some controversy, as Biden had previously ruled out pardoning his son.
However, Biden defended the decision, saying the charges against Hunter were politically motivated.
