Biden commutes sentences of 1,500 Americans in single day record
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President Biden on Thursday commuted the sentences of 1,500 Americans who were placed in home confinement during the pandemic and pardoned another 39 people in what the White House said is the record for clemency in a single day.
Why it matters: Several members of Congress in both parties had pushed Biden to make broader use of his clemency powers in the wake of his highly unpopular decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden.
- Until now, Biden had only issued 26 pardons, one of the lowest totals in recent memory.
- He still lags behind his predecessors in pardons, but his Thursday announcement brings him much closer to their totals. Plus, most pardons happen in a president's final days in office.
The big picture: The 1,500 people who received commutations had all been serving their sentences in home confinement for at least a year — in accordance with the pandemic-era CARES Act, per a White House fact sheet.
- Many of these Americans, who were convicted of nonviolent crimes, would have received lower sentences under current laws, the fact sheet stated.
- Their commutations come as some Republicans began drafting legislation that would have forced the recipients to return to prison, per the New York Times.
- The 39 people who received pardons had been convicted of "non-violent crimes, including drug offenses, and have turned their lives around," the fact sheet stated.
Zoom out: Biden's decision earlier this month to pardon his son Hunter Biden — despite previous vows that he would not do so — renewed the spotlight on his use of the pardon power.
- The move further eroded Biden's standing some many of his fellow Democrats, many of whom have blamed Biden for the party's recent election walloping.
What's next: The White House said Thursday that more pardons and commutations are on the way as Biden strives to "provide meaningful second chances" to Americans across the country.
Go deeper: Biden has some catching up to do on pardons
Editor's note: The story has been updated with additional details throughout.
