Biden’s Historic Pardons and Family Clemency

During his time in office, former President Joe Biden made headlines for issuing an exceptional number of pardons.

Throughout his presidency, Biden granted 8,064 pardons, including a landmark 6,500 for individuals convicted of marijuana possession.

This sweeping move placed him among the top leaders in terms of pardoning, right behind former President Jimmy Carter, who pardoned over 200,000 draft dodgers.

In comparison, President Donald Trump, in his first term, issued just 237 pardons.

A Close Historical Look at Pardons

Biden’s pardoning power stands out in modern U.S. history.

The only other president who comes close, aside from Carter, is Andrew Johnson, who granted 7,654 pardons during his time in office.

Obama, for instance, issued 1,927 pardons, setting a high bar for two-term presidents, while Franklin D. Roosevelt was even more generous with 3,687 pardons.

Other notable figures in the pardoning history include Lyndon B. Johnson (1,187), Dwight D. Eisenhower (1,157), and Herbert Hoover (1,198).

These presidents used their powers to offer clemency on a significant scale, but Biden’s number surpasses many others in recent decades.

Biden’s Family and Preemptive Pardons

In a move that stirred some controversy, just before President Trump was inaugurated, Biden also issued preemptive pardons to members of his own family.

This included his brother, James Biden, along with several other relatives like his sister Valerie and her husband, John, and his younger brother Francis.

These pardons covered all “nonviolent” actions dating back to 2014. Biden explained that these pardons were in response to relentless attacks on his family, driven by partisan political motivations.

In addition to his family members, Biden extended pardons to figures such as General Mike Milley, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and former Representative Liz Cheney, who had been involved in investigating the January 6th riot.

While the move raised some eyebrows, it’s not unprecedented.

President Bill Clinton had pardoned his brother, Roger, for drug charges after serving a sentence, and Trump had similarly pardoned his son-in-law Jared Kushner’s father, Charles Kushner.

A Landmark Commutation Decision

Biden’s clemency efforts didn’t stop at pardons.

In December of last year, he commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 people, marking the largest single-day clemency action in modern history. Commutations reduce prison sentences but don’t erase convictions.

One controversial decision involved commuting the sentence of Marvin Gabrion, who had been convicted of a brutal 1997 murder.

This decision sparked outrage, with the victim’s father calling it “despicable.”

Criticism from Key Political Figures

The timing of some of Biden’s pardons, particularly those for his family, was criticized by figures like David Axelrod, a key architect of Obama’s political career.

Axelrod lambasted the pardons as “egregious” and criticized Biden for issuing them at the last minute before Trump’s inauguration.

On the “Hacks on Tap” podcast, Axelrod expressed frustration with the timing, arguing that Biden should have taken responsibility for his actions rather than issuing them “with one foot out the door.

” He further claimed these pardons muddied the public perception of January 6th, giving Trump a political gift.

Trump’s Pardons in Comparison

Trump’s pardoning record also reflects some notable moments.

In his first term, he granted 237 pardons, but in his final days in office, he issued a flurry of pardons, including for individuals involved in the January 6th Capitol riot.

His total number of pardons now exceeds 1,700.

Trump kept his promise to release supporters who sought to overturn the 2020 election results, including granting clemency to pro-life protesters and the founder of the Silk Road, Ross Ulbricht.

Both Biden and Trump used their pardoning powers in unique ways, with each facing significant political backlash, yet also fulfilling their promises to supporters and loved ones.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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