WASHINGTON, DC, USA — President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of approximately 1,500 individuals and pardoned 39 Americans on Thursday, December 12, 2024, marking the largest single-day act of clemency in modern U.S. history.
The move comes as his presidency nears its conclusion and amid mounting calls from advocacy groups for more expansive use of his clemency powers.
The commutations apply to individuals who were released from prison and placed on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many were freed to curb virus outbreaks in crowded prisons, which at one point saw one in five inmates infected, according to Associated Press data.
Those pardoned had been convicted of nonviolent crimes such as drug offenses, fraud, or theft, and demonstrated significant rehabilitation.
“America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances,” Biden said in a statement.
“As president, I have the great privilege of extending mercy to people who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, restoring opportunity for Americans to participate in daily life and contribute to their communities, and taking steps to remove sentencing disparities for non-violent offenders, especially those convicted of drug offenses.”
Recipients and Their Stories
Among the pardoned was Louisiana resident Trynitha Fulton, 46, who pleaded guilty to payroll fraud in the early 2000s while working as a New Orleans middle school teacher.
After serving three years of probation, Fulton earned a master’s degree and became a leader at Skyliners-Youth Outreach, a nonprofit supporting at-risk youth in New Orleans.
“The pardon gives me a sense of freedom,” Fulton said in a statement.
“The conviction has served as a mental barrier for me, limiting my ability to live a full life. The pardon gives me inspiration to make more impactful decisions personally and professionally.”
The recipients range in age from 36 to 75 and include individuals who now work as addiction counsellors, emergency responders, and military veterans.
Clemency and Legacy
Thursday’s clemency adds to Biden’s prior record of 122 commutations and 21 pardons.
He has also granted blanket pardons for simple marijuana possession on federal lands and for former service members convicted under the now-repealed military ban on consensual gay sex.
His actions surpass those of previous presidents, including Barack Obama, who granted 330 clemencies in a single day in 2017, and Jimmy Carter, who issued 37 clemencies during his one term.
Biden’s broad use of clemency aligns with his administration’s efforts to address sentencing disparities and promote criminal justice reform.
However, advocacy groups are urging him to take additional steps before leaving office, including commuting sentences for federal death row prisoners.
Political Controversy
The announcement follows Biden’s controversial decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, who faced charges of gun and tax crimes.
The move has drawn criticism, with only 20% of Americans approving of the decision, according to an Associated Press-NORC poll.
Biden justified the pardon by citing political interference in the prosecution.
Biden is also weighing preemptive pardons for individuals who investigated Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
While some lawmakers, including Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., are urging broader clemency for activists like environmental lawyer Steven Donziger, others, such as Sen. Adam Schiff, argue that further presidential pardons are unnecessary.
Broader Implications
The clemency announcement highlights the president’s focus on rehabilitation and reintegration while underscoring the high stakes as Trump prepares to assume office in January.
Biden’s attorney general, Merrick Garland, had paused federal executions, but Trump is expected to resume them, raising concerns among criminal justice reform advocates.
Marge Baker, executive vice president at People For the American Way, emphasised the long-term significance of Biden’s clemency.
“These grants are about more than just second chances—they’re about setting a precedent for a more equitable and just system,” she said.
As Biden prepares to leave office, his historic use of clemency powers cements a legacy of reform and compassion, while leaving unresolved questions about the future of criminal justice under a new administration.
