“Historic One-Day Clemency Initiative” – One America News Network
OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
5:21 PM – Thursday, December 12, 2024
President Joe Biden has undertaken the most significant act of presidential clemency in modern U.S. history in just one day, issuing pardons for 39 individuals and commuting the sentences of nearly 1,500 others.
Biden asserted that this decision will “help reunite families, strengthen communities, and assist individuals in reintegrating into society,” which was the articulated purpose of his extensive clemency efforts, as stated in a release from the White House on Thursday.
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The commutations granted to nearly 1,500 individuals involve inmates who were released from incarceration and placed under home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic. As an emergency response under the Cares Act, many inmates were sent home to “prevent the rapid spread of the coronavirus” within federal prisons.
Biden indicated that each individual included in the latest commutations had shown commitment to family reunification and rehabilitation while serving their sentences remotely.
“These commutation recipients have successfully rejoined their families and communities, proving that they deserve a second chance,” the White House noted.
In contrast, Congressional Republicans are advocating for the return of thousands of federal inmates back to prison who were released during the COVID-19 period.
The nearly 1,500 individuals will have reduced sentences, while their convictions will remain intact under the commutations. The criminal records of the 39 individuals pardoned by Biden have been fully expunged.
The pardoned group consisted of individuals “convicted of non-violent felonies,” including significant drug offenses, as per the White House.
“As president, I have the great honor of extending mercy to those who have shown remorse and commitment to rehabilitation, allowing Americans to reintegrate into society and addressing sentencing disparities for non-violent offenders, particularly those with drug convictions,” Biden stated.
With this sweeping clemency initiative, Biden has now issued almost 1,700 pardons and commutations during his four years in office. Former President Barack Obama granted clemency to 1,927 individuals throughout his two terms, mostly via commutation. In his last actions as president in 2017, Obama commuted the sentences of 330 individuals convicted of drug offenses, marking it as the second-largest single-day clemency act.
In contrast, Donald Trump “pardoned 74 individuals and commuted the sentences of 70 others,” according to NBC News, asserting that extensive research was involved in his decision-making process.
Recently, despite previously stating otherwise, President Biden provided his son, Hunter, with a full pardon on federal firearms and tax-related charges. However, this decision faced significant backlash even from Democratic supporters. A recent Associated Press poll revealed that only 20% of Americans approved of the Hunter pardon, highlighting widespread belief that Biden was not truthful.
The White House conveyed: “In the upcoming weeks, the President will undertake further actions to offer meaningful second chances and continue reviewing additional pardons and commutations,” indicating Biden may use his clemency authority again before the end of his term.
Biden’s 39 Pardons:
- Nina Simona Allen, 49, Harvest, Alabama
- Kelsie Lynn Becklin, 38, Falcon Heights, Minnesota
- Duran Arthur Brown, 44, Cleveland, Ohio
- Norman O’Neal Brown, 56, Washington, DC
- Arthur Lawrence Byrd, 58, Clinton, Maryland
- Sarah Jean Carlson, 49, Coon Rapids, Minnesota
- Brandon Sergio Castroflay, 49, Alexandria, Virginia
- Rosetta Jean Davis, 60, Colville, Washington
- Stevoni Wells Doyle, 47, Santaquin, Utah
- Gregory S. Ekman, 58, Fountain Valley, California
- Shannan Rae Faulkner, 56, Muldrow, Oklahoma
- Trynitha Fulton, 46, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Paul John Garcia, 72, Las Vegas, New Mexico
- Kim Douglas Haman, 75, Lima, Ohio
- Sherranda Janell Harris, 43, Norwalk, Connecticut
- Terence Anthony Jackson, 36, Seattle, Washington
- Edwin Allen Jones, 60, Paducah, Kentucky
- Jamal Lee King, 53, North Ridgeville, Ohio
- Jerry Donald Manning, 70, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
- Honi Lori Moore, 46, Rock Springs, Wyoming
- Emily Good Nelson, 39, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Denita Nicole Parker, 43, Gaffney, South Carolina
- Michael Gary Pelletier, 67, Augusta, Maine
- Russell Thomas Portner, 74, Toutle, Washington
- Nathaniel David Reed III, 46, San Antonio, Texas
- Gary Michael Robinson, 70, Redmond, Oregon
- Jose Antonio Rodriguez, 55, Coral Springs, Florida
- Patrice Chante Sellers, 49, Bear, Delaware
- Audrey Diane Simon, 63, Prescott, Wisconsin
- James Russell Stidd, 79, Groveport, Ohio
- Diana Bazan Villanueva, 51, La Grange, Illinois
- Lashawn Marrvinia Walker, 51, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Mireya Aimee Walmsley, 57, La Porte, Texas
- Kimberly Jo Warner, 54, Portville, New York
- Johnnie Earl Williams, 58, Denver, Colorado
- Shawnte Dorothea Williams, 45, Columbia, South Carolina
- Lashundra Tenneal Wilson, 49, Arlington, Texas
- Lora Nicole Wood, 39, Maxwell, Nevada
- James Edgar Yarbrough, 79, Arlington, Tennessee
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