Biden grants clemency to nearly 2,500 non-violent drug offenders

In an unprecedented move during his final days in office, President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 non-violent drug offenders on Friday. The announcement, coming just days before President-elect Donald Trump is set to assume office, solidifies Biden's record for issuing the most pardons and commutations by any U.S. president.

“Today’s clemency action provides relief for individuals who received lengthy sentences based on discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine, as well as outdated sentencing enhancements for drug crimes,” Biden said in a statement. “This action is an important step toward righting historic wrongs, correcting sentencing disparities, and providing deserving individuals the opportunity to return to their families and communities after spending far too much time behind bars.”

The names of the nearly 2,500 inmates granted clemency have not yet been disclosed. Biden noted that he plans to continue reviewing additional commutations and pardons over the remaining three days of his term.

This latest wave of clemency follows a series of high-profile actions by the outgoing president. In December, Biden commuted the sentences of 37 of the 40 remaining federal death row inmates, sparing the lives of individuals convicted of heinous crimes, including white supremacist Ricky Allen Fackrell and convicted murderers Brandon Basham and Chadrick Fulks. These inmates’ sentences were reduced to life imprisonment without parole.

Also last month, Biden granted clemency to almost 1,500 individuals and issued pardons for 39 non-violent offenders who had been serving their sentences in home confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In his statement at the time, Biden emphasized the importance of offering second chances, stating, “America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances. As President, I have the great privilege of extending mercy to people who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation.”

However, not all of Biden's clemency decisions have been met with universal praise. Among those pardoned in recent weeks was Michael Conahan, a former Pennsylvania judge implicated in the infamous “kids-for-cash” scandal. Conahan, who admitted to accepting over $2 million in bribes for funneling juvenile defendants to private detention facilities, was convicted of racketeering conspiracy charges in 2011.

In a particularly controversial move, Biden also pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, who was awaiting sentencing for tax fraud and a gun crime and facing multiple investigations into alleged criminal behavior.

The flurry of clemency actions reflects Biden’s commitment to addressing systemic inequities in the criminal justice system, particularly those tied to non-violent drug offenses and sentencing disparities. Nonetheless, the inclusion of high-profile and contentious cases in the clemency decisions has sparked debate over the limits of presidential pardoning power and its broader implications for justice reform.

As the Biden administration draws to a close, his clemency record will likely stand as a defining feature of his presidency, highlighting his efforts to address sentencing disparities while also reigniting discussions about accountability and fairness in the criminal justice system.