On Thursday, President Joe Biden rolled out a broad presidential pardon, commuting the sentences of 1,499 people and granting pardons to 39 convicted felons for non-violent drug charges. The White House has called this the single-day largest clemency action in U.S. history. Released were veterans and community leaders who showed rehabilitation, and those who had commuted sentences were found to have been incarcerated for antiquated legislation or placed in home confinement for reasons of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Biden emphasized second chances and called the pardons “a commitment, to each community, on their own behalf”, while the pardon drew criticism for including his own son, Hunter Biden, who had been convicted on tax and gun offenses. Critiques of Biden focused on favoritism, and some suggested the move cast doubt on the justice system’s legitimacy.
Key Clemency Recipients of Presidential Pardon of Joe Biden
Examples on the pardon list included someone from Virginia, who at 21 changed his trajectory for life after a drug felony. He later also enlisted in the U.S. Army and Air Force and supported veteran charities. On the commutation side, Timothy McGinn, a former stockbroker convicted of defrauding clients of millions, and Jimmy Dimora, an ex-county commissioner jailed for accepting bribes, were among the notable cases.
The President also shortened the time served by individuals such as Paul Daugerdas, who engaged in cheating by filing schemes to defraud the tax authorities, and Elaine Lovett, who participated in a $26 million Medicare fraud. Biden highlighted his aim at mitigating severe sentencing statutes while making further clemency offers over the next few weeks.
Controversy Over Hunter Biden
The decision to pardon Hunter Biden sparked heated debate. Having previously ruled it out, Biden defended the decision, as he declared the suits against his son politically driven. This follows a trend of outgoing presidents granting clemency to close associates, a practice seen during Donald Trump’s tenure.
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