Biden Reduces Sentences for Nearly 2,500 Non-Violent Drug Offenders – One America News Network

OAN Staff Abril Elfi
5:25 PM – Friday, January 17, 2025
President Joe Biden has granted individual pardons and commutations to nearly 2,500 individuals convicted of nonviolent drug offenses.
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On Friday, President Biden announced that he commuted the sentences of 2,490 individuals convicted of nonviolent drug crimes, noting their sentences are “disproportionately long compared to what they would face today under current laws, policies, and practices.”
“Today’s clemency actions provide relief for those who received harsh sentences based on outdated distinctions between crack and powder cocaine, as well as obsolete sentencing enhancements for drug offenses,” Biden stated.
The White House disclosed the names of the 2,490 individuals whose sentences were commuted. Biden further indicated that more commutations may be forthcoming, committing to review additional cases before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Monday.
This announcement follows Biden’s previous clemency actions last month, which included granting releases to approximately 1,500 individuals who were transitioned to home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside pardoning 39 Americans for nonviolent offenses.
Biden also commuted the sentences of 37 out of the 40 individuals on death row, changing their sentences to life imprisonment. However, Trump has promised to reverse Biden’s death row commutations once he is sworn in.
The President has faced backlash for the pardoning of his son Hunter, who admitted guilt for tax offenses and was convicted on firearms-related charges.
It is customary for presidents to issue a series of pardons as their terms near conclusion.
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