In an extraordinary display of executive power, President Joe Biden announced on December 12, 2024 the largest single-day clemency action in modern U.S. history, commuting approximately 1,500 sentences and pardoning 39 individuals. The sweeping move, lauded by some as a gesture of compassion and redemption, comes under a shadow cast by the president’s controversial recent pardon of his son, Hunter Biden.
Biden’s clemency action targeted non-violent individuals released to home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic under the CARES Act. According to the White House, these individuals had demonstrated “successful rehabilitation and a strong commitment to making their communities safer.”
Among the 1,500 are a woman who directed emergency response teams during natural disasters, a church deacon who counseled addicts and youths, and a decorated veteran.
Yet, the announcement, draped in words of renewal and justice, felt hollow to critics who could not ignore its timing. The president had just granted an unconditional pardon to his son on December 1, erasing federal gun and tax charges that spanned nearly a decade.
“America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances,” Biden declared as he unveiled the mass amnesty. His words, though noble, were met with skepticism in a nation deeply divided over what justice truly means. Critics quickly pointed out the irony of offering second chances to thousands while seemingly reserving the most extraordinary mercy for his own flesh and blood.
Public sentiment reflects this disapproval, with a poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research indicating that only 22% of Americans approve of the president’s decision to pardon his son, while 51% disapprove. This widespread disapproval highlights the perception of double standards and preferential treatment within the political elite.
Representative Ayanna Pressley, a Democrat from Massachusestts, had been pressuring Biden to issue pardons. She praised the president’s decision, and said it was a “meaningful and historic action.”
“Thanks to President Biden, today a near 1,500 families will have their lives changed forever and I congratulate each and every family on this new beginning,” she announced in a statement.
In a post on X, Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) also encouraged Biden to use his clemency power before he leaves office, “to address miscarriages of justice, just as the founders of this democracy intended.”
Historically, Biden’s move dwarfs similar actions by his predecessors. Former President Barack Obama, who made criminal justice reform a cornerstone of his administration, issued a record-breaking 1,715 commutations and 212 pardons over his eight years in office, with 330 commutations granted on his most active single day.
By contrast, President Donald Trump granted 143 pardons and 94 commutations during his four years in office, many of which were controversial and appeared to benefit his political allies and high-profile supporters. President George W. Bush issued 189 pardons and 11 commutations during his two terms. Biden’s single-day clemency action now stands as the largest of its kind, reflecting both the scale of his effort and the contentious political climate in which it occurred.
The juxtaposition of Hunter Biden’s pardon with the broader clemency initiative has led to accusations of hypocrisy and self-interest. Critics contend that while the president acted swiftly to pardon his son, thousands of nonviolent offenders remain incarcerated, awaiting similar acts of mercy. This disparity has fueled debates about the equitable application of justice and the ethical responsibilities of those in power.
In response to the backlash, the White House has maintained that the clemency decisions were based on individual assessments of rehabilitation and public safety considerations. President Biden has indicated that additional clemency actions may be forthcoming, stating his commitment to advancing equal justice and providing meaningful second chances.
Human rights organizations are also pushing the President to commute the sentences of inmates on federal death row. Some have good reason to fear that executions could resume and increase under the incoming Trump administration.
