In a historic move, President Joe Biden issued 39 presidential pardons for non-violent offenses and commuted the sentences of 1,500 individuals on Thursday, marking the highest single-day clemency actions in U.S. history. The White House said that the decision reflects Biden’s commitment to justice reform and giving deserving individuals a second chance.
The pardons targeted those with drug or criminal convictions that were considered non-violent, many who had proven rehabilitation and committed themselves to community service. Some of them included a man from Virginia who transformed himself after being convicted of selling drugs at age 21: he earned degrees, completed military service, and even became a community advocate.
The bulk of the 1,499 commuted sentences were for people put behind bars amid the COVID-19 outbreak under home confinement or sentenced under decades-old laws. Biden insisted upon their proven willingness to resurface in society. “They’ve shown they deserve a second chance,” Biden said, as more acts of clemency will be announced in the weeks to follow.
Among the notable individuals are Timothy McGinn, convicted in a multi-million-dollar fraud case, and Jimmy Dimora, a former Ohio county commissioner found guilty of receiving $450,000 in bribes. Paul Daugerdas, who organized fraudulent tax shelters, and Elaine Lovett, involved in a $26 million Medicare fraud scheme, were also included.
This announcement comes amid Biden’s previous categorical pardons, such as his 2022 marijuana-related conviction amnesty and pardons for military personnel discriminated against due to sexual orientation. However, his recent pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, convicted of tax fraud and gun-related crimes, has sparked controversy and accusations of bias.
As Biden prepares to exit in January 2025, speculations about further clemency decisions are looming, including potential preemptive pardons to shield critics of his successor, Donald Trump, from retribution.
