'Controversy Over Biden's Son Pardon, Largest Ever Mass Commutation of 1,500 People'

Pardon for 39 Nonviolent Prisoners Including Drug Possession
Sentence Reduction for 1,499 Under Home Quarantine During Pandemic

About a month before his retirement, U.S. President Joe Biden on the 12th (local time) granted pardons and commutations to approximately 1,500 people, marking the largest single-day action in history. This came about ten days after he reversed his previous stance earlier this month and pardoned his second son, Hunter Biden.

In a statement on the day, President Biden said, "We are pardoning 39 individuals who have demonstrated successful rehabilitation and dedication to making their communities stronger and safer, and commuting the sentences of about 1,500 people serving long prison terms," adding, "Those who were under home confinement during the pandemic have successfully reintegrated with their families and communities and have shown they deserve a second chance."

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The 39 individuals on the pardon list were convicted of non-violent crimes such as marijuana possession. The approximately 1,500 people whose sentences were commuted were those who were released during the 2020 pandemic to prevent the spread of the virus and were under home confinement but still had remaining sentences. Except for some who violated the rules and returned to prison, most stayed at home and enjoyed daily life such as employment under the supervision of authorities.

According to the White House, this pardon and commutation action is the largest ever on a single day. The White House explained, "President Biden is the first president to pardon individuals convicted of simple marijuana use and possession, as well as LGBTQI+ former military personnel," and added that additional pardons or commutations may occur in the coming weeks.

This move came just 11 days after President Biden reversed his promise on the 1st and pardoned his second son, Hunter Biden, who was under scrutiny. Hunter had been found guilty in June of illegal firearm possession and tax evasion charges and was awaiting sentencing this month. Theoretically, the sentences could have been up to 25 years for the firearm violation and up to 17 years for tax evasion.

This is not the first time a sitting president has made a large-scale pardon and commutation decision. Former President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of more than 1,700 people charged with non-violent drug offenses during his tenure. Donald Trump, the president-elect set to take office next month, announced a total of 144 pardons during his first term.

The New York Times (NYT) reported that "Biden is under pressure from his advisors to take preemptive pardons before handing over power to Trump, who resumed executions after nearly 20 years of suspension during his first term." Recently, voices from various sectors, including Pope Francis, have expressed concerns that large-scale executions may occur after Trump’s inauguration and have called for commutations for death row inmates.

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Meanwhile, Trump, who was named 'Person of the Year' by the weekly magazine Time, stated in an interview released on the same day that he intends to pardon those involved in the 'January 6 Capitol riot' immediately upon his inauguration on January 20 next year. The January 6 Capitol riot was an incident where Trump’s ardent supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. in protest of the 2020 election results. He emphasized that the pardons for those involved would "begin within an hour" of his inauguration and "probably within the first nine minutes."