Lawmakers and Advocates Commend President Biden’s Clemency Actions
Yesterday, President Biden announced that he granted clemency to approximately 1,500 Americans - the most ever in a single day - who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation as well as a strong commitment to making their communities better. The President commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 individuals who were placed on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic and who have successfully reintegrated into their families and communities. He also pardoned 39 individuals who were convicted of non-violent crimes. Americans receiving relief yesterday included several decorated military veterans, a nurse who has led response for a number of natural disasters, a recovery coach who works with survivors of trauma and persons with disabilities, an addiction counselor who volunteers his time to help young people, and more.
Yesterday’s actions build on the President’s record of criminal justice reform to help reunite families, strengthen communities, and reintegrate individuals back into society. The President has issued more sentence commutations at this point in his presidency than any of his recent predecessors at the same point in their first terms. He is also the first President ever to issue categorical pardons to individuals convicted of simple use and possession of marijuana, and to former LGBTQI+ service members convicted because of their sexual orientation. In the coming weeks, the President will take additional steps to provide meaningful second chances and continue to review additional clemency applications.
See below for what officials, advocates and more are saying:
Elected Officials:
Senator Dick Durbin, Illinois: “The President took an important step by commuting the sentences of these men and women. In far too many cases in our justice system, the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. I have long advocated for criminal justice reform to address these inequities and commend President Biden for this act of mercy and for his leadership. These individuals have successfully returned to their communities and reunited with their families. I urge the President to continue using his pardon power during his remaining time in office to address miscarriages of justice, just as the founders of this democracy intended.” [Tweet, 12/12/24]
Senator Chris Coons, Delaware: “As Delawarean Bryan Stevenson has said, each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done. These nearly 1,500 individuals have already successfully rejoined their families and communities, and this welcome act makes our system just a little more just.” [Tweet, 12/12/2024]
Senator Tina Smith, Minnesota: “Three Minnesotans were granted clemency from the President today. Since they’ve left incarceration after serving time for non-violent offenses, each of them has rededicated themselves to working towards a better Minnesota for everyone. I’m hopeful the President will continue on this path and grant more clemency for non-violent offenders who have put in the work and want to serve their communities.” [Tweet, 12/12/24]
Senator Ed Markey, Massachusetts: “I applaud President Biden for answering the call to grant clemency to Americans deserving of lenience. This is an important step towards correcting the harms of the war on drugs and injecting much needed fairness into our broken criminal justice system.” [Tweet, 12/12/24]
Senator Raphael Warnock, Georgia: “I was heartened by his announcement, and when we look at some of the inequities in the system, I hope that he will continue to make use of his clemency authority. To bring relief to folks who have found themselves in the cross hairs of our, of some of the inequities and brokenness in our system.” [MSNBC, 12/12/24]
Senate Judiciary Committee Majority: “President Biden acted with mercy by granting clemency to ~1,500 Americans on CARES Act home confinement and pardoning 39 others.” [Tweet, 12/12/2024]
Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Delaware: “As co-chair of the Second Chance Task Force & champion of the Clean Slate Act, I'm proud to see @POTUS issue the largest grant of clemency in a single day in presidential history. These Americans have paid their debt to society & deserve a second chance.” [Tweet, 12/12/24]
Representative James E. Clyburn, South Carolina: “I applaud @POTUS for pardoning 39 people with non-violent convictions and commuting even more. This grant of clemency and restoration of rights is a significant step forward. Many people of color and moderate means have been disproportionately burdened by systemic injustices and clemency is a potent tool in the President’s toolbox to remedy some faults in our legal system. We have a leader in President Biden who is committed to tackling these injustices and has done that work in earnest.” [Tweet, 12/12/24]
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, New Jersey: “This is a significant act of humanitarianism from the Biden Administration. @RepCori and I have long been advocating for folks serving home confinement sentences for non-violent infractions as part of the CARES Act. I am so glad the President has taken this historic step today.” [Tweet, 12/12/24]
Rep. Ilhan Omar, Minnesota: “Thank you, President Biden. 👏🏽 This is the type of action we love to see. Let’s keep it going.” [Tweet, 12/12/2024]
Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Massachusetts: “I applaud President Biden for granting pardons to 39 individuals and commuting the sentences of nearly 1,500 individuals on home confinement, demonstrating the power of clemency to address systemic injustices, reunite families, and set our nation on a path to healing. By taking this meaningful and historic action, President Biden is changing the lives of nearly 1,500 people and ensuring they can remain in community with their loved ones. People on home confinement are disproportionately elderly, chronically ill, pose no threat to public safety, and have successfully reintegrated into their communities. Thanks to President Biden, today a near 1,500 families will have their lives changed forever and I congratulate each and every family on this new beginning. With 39 days remaining in this presidency, President Biden has the power to continue to use his clemency authority to change and save the lives of many, many other Americans behind the wall. It is the right thing to do, it is the moral thing to do, and it is a matter of legacy.” [Statement, 12/12/2024]
Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Massachusetts: “Clemency changes and saves lives. And thanks to @POTUS, 1,500 families will have their lives changed forever.” [Tweet, 12/12/2024]
Rep. Andre Carson, Illinois: “Our criminal justice system should provide accountability, punishment, and restitution when the law is broken, and no one should ever be above the law. But justice must also allow for rehabilitation and restoration back into our communities when debts have been paid to society. Hoosiers believe in fairness and second chances. President Biden’s 39 pardons today – including one from Indianapolis – and commutations for 1,499 individuals will help bring more fairness and balance to our judicial system. These actions will reunite separated families and open doors to reintegrate into their communities. I commend President Biden for recognizing the rehabilitation of these individuals and for providing second chances. I hope to see more pardons to come. I also hope today’s pardons send a message of hope to all those struggling with addiction, especially during the challenging time of the holidays. Recovery is possible.” [Tweet, 12/12/2024]
Rep. Steven Horsford, Nevada: “@POTUS’s clemency actions are a great step toward justice, offering hope to families in Nevada & nationwide. By granting second chances, we're correcting past injustices & strengthening communities. Let's continue to address outdated sentences and bring more families together.” [Tweet, 12/12/2024]
Rep. Valerie Foushee, North Carolina: “Thank you @POTUS for using your clemency and pardon powers to reunite families and address the systemic injustices in our legal system. I hope to see the continued use of this authority to help the millions of Americans who are burdened by the harms of mass incarceration.” [Tweet, 12/12/2024]
Rep. Robert Garcia, California: “@POTUS is furthering justice by commuting the sentences of 1,500 people, and pardoning 39 convicted of non-violent crimes. I joined over 60 colleagues to urge the President to confront mass incarceration directly. We can commute wrongful death sentences and address injustice.” [Tweet, 12/12/2024]
Rep. Hillary Scholten, Michigan: “As an attorney, an advocate for the voiceless, and—most importantly—as a person of faith, I believe everyone deserves a second chance, and I applaud @POTUS for giving thousands of Americans just that. With this historic move, our country is closer to equity and justice for all.” [Tweet, 12/12/2024]
Rep. Delia Ramirez, Illinois: “I applaud @POTUS's decision to pardon & reduce the sentences of 1,500 people. Clemency reunites families & gives second chances. The process reflects the best parts of who we are. It's a step and there is more to do to realize a fair justice system.” [Tweet, 12/12/2024]
Rep. Barbara Lee, California: “I applaud @POTUS for this significant step towards correcting the harms of a broken criminal justice system and the failed war on drugs. I look forward to seeing the Biden Administration continue to take action to correct systemic injustices.” [Tweet, 12/12/2024]
Advocates:
Color of Change: "Today, @POTUS granted clemency to 1,500+ people, most of whom had been serving their sentences at home under the CARES Act passed during the pandemic. We commend President Biden for this first step & urge him to take further action in his remaining days." [X, 12/12/24]
Mayra Macías, Executive Director at Building Back Together: “President Biden took historic action today by granting clemency to nearly 1,500 Americans and pardoning 39 individuals who were convicted of non-violent crimes – the largest single-day act of clemency in U.S. history. This life-changing relief will be felt by a decorated military veteran, a nurse who has led response for a number of natural disasters, an addiction counselor who volunteers his time to help young people, and more – all individuals who were placed on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic and who have successfully reintegrated into their families and communities. These actions build on President Biden’s record of criminal justice reform as the first president in American history to issue categorical pardons to individuals convicted of simple use and possession of marijuana, and to former LGBTQI+ service members convicted of private conduct because of their sexual orientation. Since he and Vice President Harris took office, their administration has worked to help reunite families, strengthen communities, and reintegrate individuals back into society. As President Biden has said: America was founded on the promise of second chances. For far too long, we have struggled to live up to that promise. With today’s actions, our criminal justice system is reopening doors of opportunity to people who should have the chance to participate in daily life and contribute to their communities.” [Statement, 12/12/24]
Zoe Towns, Executive Director at FWD.us: “We applaud President Biden’s clemency action announced today which will ensure that nearly 1,500 people can continue to live and work in their communities without the threat of re-incarceration or the limitations of home confinement. The critical work ahead is to move bold clemency action that focuses on the thousands of people serving disproportionately long and racially disparate sentences in federal prison. We view this announcement today as a promising sign of what’s to come, and we welcome President Biden’s continued commitment to reviewing additional clemency petitions of people whose sentences would be shorter under today’s laws and policies as his term draws to a close.” [Statement, 12/12/24]
Desmond Meade, Activist and Author: “Today’s historic act of clemency is a powerful step toward justice and second chances. Nearly 1,500 commutations and 39 pardons remind us that redemption and opportunity strengthen families, improve public safety, and build better communities. This is what progress looks like.” [Tweet, 12/12/24]
Rev. Adam Russell Taylor, Sojourners: “I applaud President Biden’s commuting of 1500 people today, a moral act of clemency and reminder of Jesus’ words ‘blessed are the merciful’.” [Tweet, 12/12/24]
Akua Amaning, Director for Criminal Justice Reform at Center for American Progress: “Through the clemency actions taken today, President Biden is showing that a commitment to compassion and second chances is necessary to achieve justice for all. Far too many people—especially in communities of color—have been subjected to the unjust punishments of America’s legal system, which has fractured families and damaged public safety and public trust. We are encouraged by the announcements today and urge the president to use his remaining weeks in office to take further clemency action to right historical wrongs in the criminal legal system—leaving an example for future leaders at both the federal and state levels to follow." [Statement, 12/12/24]
Melissa Morales, President & Founder of Somos Votantes: "Today, we celebrate a significant and crucial step forward as President Biden granted pardons to 39 people and commutations to nearly 1,500 people. As President Biden aptly stated, our nation was founded on the promise of opportunity, redemption, and the belief that everyone deserves a path to a better future. This decision is a powerful reminder of the importance and power of mercy in healing not only individuals but also the injustices embedded within our criminal justice system. As the daughter of a formerly incarcerated father, I know all too well the toll prison takes on our families and our communities. Today’s announcement brings us one step closer to breaking the cycle of mass incarceration that has separated so many Latino families and overshadowed real public safety solutions." [Statement, 12/12/24]
Broadcast
Mike Barnicle, Commentator: 1,500 people on home confinement that's a stunning number […] That's a lot of people, lot of pardons. More to come. As the president said, America is built on second chances. He's right about that. [MSNBC, 12/12/24]
Eddie Glaude, Distinguished Professor at Princeton University: This act of clemency at this scale gives us a sense that perhaps we can, in some ways, correct the inequities, the brokenness. [MSNBC, 12/12/24]
Mike Memoli, White House Correspondent: The Democrats applauding the move are highlighting this as an example of what they see as targeting the issue of mass incarceration […] It speaks to a message the president's trying to send here about these non-violent offenses and the ways in which our criminal justice system can be made more fair. [MSNBC, 12/12/24]
Andrea Mitchell, Anchor: It's the largest act of clemency in a single day for a modern-day president. [MSNBC, 12/12/24]
Dana Bash, Anchor: America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances. That's Joe Biden's message today as he commutes sentences for nearly 1500 people and pardons 39 others convicted of nonviolent crimes. [CNN, 12/12/24]
