President has commuted the sentences of more than 2,000 individuals and pardoning others convicted of nonviolent crimes. According to a White House announcement, those whose sentences are being commuted “were placed on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic and have successfully reintegrated into their families and communities.” This marks the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history.
On December 1, 2024, Biden granted his most controversial pardon to his son, , who was facing sentencing in two criminal cases. The decision represents an unprecedented reversal, as President Biden had previously—and repeatedly—promised not to use his executive authority to pardon or commute his son’s sentence.
“Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter,” the 82-year-old stated on December 1. “I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice,” Biden added. “I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision.”
Hours before his presidency concluded in January 2025, Biden issued preemptive pardons to several more individuals, including Dr. and members of the January 6 Committee.
Find out who else Biden has granted clemency to as his presidency nears its end.
BREAKING: President Biden preemptively pardons Fauci, Milley and Jan. 6 committee before President-elect Trump takes office. https://t.co/1Wy5SiSsyb
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 20, 2025
Clemency is an official act of mercy or leniency, typically granted by a government official such as a president or governor, that reduces the severity of a punishment or forgives an offense. Clemency is an umbrella term that covers various forms of relief, including:
A federal pardon is a power granted to the president of the United States under Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution. This clemency power allows the president to pardon all federal criminal offenses, except those related to impeachment.
According to multiple outlets, Biden pardoned or commuted sentences for around 8,000 individuals during his presidency.
Biden has granted clemency to many individuals, including entire groups. In 2022, he took executive action to pardon more than 6,500 people convicted of simple marijuana possession under federal and D.C. laws, a measure he expanded in 2023. Earlier this year, he also issued a blanket pardon for LGBTQ+ service members discharged from the military due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
As for Hunter, he was facing potential years in federal prison on multiple charges related to gun possession and tax fraud, but he received a full and unconditional pardon.
According to a White House announcement, some of the individuals receiving relief include “a decorated military veteran and pilot who spends much of his time helping his fellow church members who are in poor health or unable to perform strenuous tasks; a nurse who has led emergency response for several natural disasters and helped spearhead vaccination efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic; and an addiction counselor who volunteers his time to help young people find their purpose, make better choices, and refrain from destructive behaviors and gang involvement.”
The full list of individuals pardoned by Biden can be found on the Department of Justice website here.
During his four years in the White House, from January 20, 2017, to January 20, 2021, Trump issued a total of 237 acts of clemency, which included 143 pardons and 94 commutations.
Some of Trump’s most high-profile pardons include:
The full list of individuals pardoned by Trump can be found on the Department of Justice website here.
