Biden Grants 39 Presidential Pardons and Reduces 1,500 Convictions

US President Joe Biden has announced that he is going to grant 39 presidential pardons and reduce 1,500 convictions.

 (The Post News)- Joe Biden, the president of the United States of America (USA), has granted presidential amnesty to 39 Americans who were convicted for nonviolent offenses and reduced the sentences of roughly 1,500 individuals. Drug convictions were also included in the nonviolent offenses.
 
The White House, which has not provided the names of people receiving amnesty and reduced sentences, stated that it was the most presidential amnesty act granted in one day. According to the US Constitution, a president has the authority to forgive and award amnesty for offenses committed against the USA, with the exception of impeachment.
 
When President Biden announced his decision, he stated that the individuals granted amnesty have demonstrated “successful rehabilitation and commitment to making their communities stronger and safer.” Meanwhile, the reduced sentences are meant for the hundreds of individuals who were imprisoned in home confinements during the Covid-19 outbreak and faced convictions that Biden described as extensive under redundant policies. Biden said that these individuals have demonstrated that they deserve to be given another chance.
 
The White House further stated that among the individuals receiving reduced sentences is a distinguished military veteran and pilot who assisted fellow church members, a nurse who assisted with the Covid-19 vaccine rollout, and an addiction counselor. Biden mentioned that additional steps to be taken in the process of pardoning individuals and reducing sentences will be revealed in the coming week.
 
In the beginning of this month, President Biden issued a controversial amnesty to his son, Hunter Biden, which followed a common pattern of heads of state pardoning those close to them. Previously, President Biden was known for pardoning fewer people, unlike the majority of the presidents in the history of America. According to reports, President Biden awarded fewer categorical pardons in the past.
 
Additionally, reports have stated that in October 2022, Biden granted a complete pardon to individuals who were convicted for the possession of marijuana, which was later expanded to accommodate other marijuana-related felonies. In the beginning of 2024, President Biden granted complete amnesty to service troops and veterans who were sentenced for crimes based on their sexual orientation.
 
Meanwhile, BBC News reported that President Biden has purportedly been considering issuing “pre-emptive pardons” for known Trump critics to protect them from retaliation once Trump takes office; however, he is apparently worried about the perception it would create. President Biden is set to leave the White House on January 20, upon President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.

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An experienced journalist who believes that giving voice to the voiceless can lead to constructive social change. For me, journalism is more than just writing stories; it is about enlightening, educating, and entertaining people of all ages, rich and poor, literate or illiterate. As a news editor at TPN, my responsibility is to guarantee people encounter all of these features through well-written, properly structured, and easy-to-understand stories, while also ensuring that our agency adheres to the essential principles and values of journalism.

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