US President Joe Biden announced the pardoning of 39 people and the commutation of the sentences of 1,500 inmates serving long prison sentences.
“America was built on the promise of opportunity and second chances. That’s why today I am pardoning 39 people who have demonstrated successful rehabilitation and a commitment to making their communities stronger and safer. I am also commuting the sentences of nearly 1,500 people serving long prison sentences — many of whom would have received lighter sentences if convicted under today’s laws, policies, and practices,” the US president said in a statement.
According to Biden, the commutations apply to those who were transferred to home confinement during the pandemic and “successfully reintegrated into their families.” The pardons apply to those who committed nonviolent crimes. The pardons are not named.
The Associated Press is calling Biden’s decision the largest single-day pardon in modern history. According to the AP, those pardoned include a woman who led emergency response teams during natural disasters; a church deacon who worked as an addiction counselor; a molecular biologist; and a military veteran.
Biden said his administration will continue to review clemency requests and will “take more steps” “in the coming weeks.”
The AP notes that it is unclear whether Biden will take steps to protect against possible prosecution by Trump of those whom Politico has suggested the president-elect was planning to retaliate against after his victory. Sources say Biden is serious about the idea and has been mulling it over for about six months, but is “concerned about the precedent it would set.”