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The complete list of the 39 people Joe Biden pardoned today, Dec. 12: All of them accused of nonviolent crimes
A look at the full list of individuals who received a pardon by President Biden in his historic clemency declaration.
As the Biden administration comes to an end, the public can expect the White House to be issuing a slew of pardons and other forms of clemency. This legal power granted to the president by the US Constitution allows the executive sweeping power to intervene in the criminal justice system.
Earlier on Thursday, December 12, President Biden made history by issuing the largest number of clemency declarations in a single day. All those covered by the order are non-violent offenders who, if still serving a sentence, were placed on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic as prisons became epicenters of the viral spread, leaving incarcerated people especially vulnerable to the deadly virus.
But first, what exactly is clemency?
Clemency can take a variety of forms, but put simply, it comes down to the forgiveness of criminal offenses. Governors and the US President have different clemency powers that cover different court systems within the country: state courts for governors and federal courts for the president.
Of the 1,500 individuals offered clemency by the White House today, thirty-nine are being pardoned and the rest are having their sentences commuted.
What is the difference between a pardon and commutation?
A presidential pardon wipes the criminal record of an individual clean. The thirty-nine people pardoned today all served their sentences and are being recognized for their contributions to society and their efforts to improve themselves while in prison and after being released.
The remaining individuals, which the White House did not provide any additional information about, are having their sentences commuted, which is done when the executive believes that their debt to society has already been paid and the punishment did not fit the crime.
Many on this second, and much longer list, were convicted on drug trafficking charges and have caught sentences that overplayed their involvement. Others had filed motions raising concerns over the respect of their rights to a fair trial, some alleging that they were not given proper legal representation.
Find the full list on the White House’s website.
The call to provide preempetive pardons to those who could be targeted by the Trump administration
Earlier this month, President Biden announced the controversial pardon of his son Hunter over fears that he would be targeted by the next administration. These fears have led some political commentators to recommend the White House issue preemeptive pardons to individuals within that could be targeted under the Trump administration. Some of these individuals who could be given a pardon of this nature include Congressman-soon-to-be-Senator from California Adam Schiff, former-Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney, and others involved in the impeachments that took place during the President-elect’s first term, as well as those who spearheaded the investigations into the events of January 6th, 2021. Most who are under consideration for a pardon of this nature have stated publically that they would not like to receive one as it can give the imagine, true or not, that they are guilty of a crime.
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