President Joe Biden announced Thursday that he was providing commutations for nearly 1,500 individuals and pardons for an additional 39 involved in non-violent crimes.
It is the largest single-day act of clemency in modern American history. It represents more than 4.5 times the number granted by Barack Obama, who held the previous high of 330, which he granted his last full day in office in 2017.
“America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances,” Biden said in a statement. “As President, I have the great privilege of extending mercy to people who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, restoring opportunity for Americans to participate in daily life and contribute to their communities, and taking steps to remove sentencing disparities for non-violent offenders, especially those convicted of drug offenses.”
The commutations affect…
