Biden releases thousands of drug offenders
The US president has granted commutations to nearly 1,500 individuals convicted of drug offenses, establishing a new record for clemency actions. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
**US President has Commuted Nearly 2,500 “Disproportionately Long Sentences”**
US President Joe Biden has set a record for the most pardons and clemencies granted by an American president by commuting the prison sentences of nearly 2,500 non-violent drug offenders.
According to a statement from the White House on Friday, the commutations affect individuals “who are serving disproportionately long sentences compared to the sentences they would receive today under current law, policy, and practice.”
Most of these individuals received lengthy sentences due to the differences between crack and powder cocaine and “outdated sentencing enhancements for drug crimes,” as detailed in the statement. The discriminatory distinction between crack and powder cocaine was abolished by the 2010 Fair Sentencing Act, while the 2018 First Step Act reduced mandatory minimum sentences for serious drug offenses.
The Fair Sentencing Act was enacted during Barack Obama's presidency, whereas the First Step Act was introduced under Donald Trump, who is set to return to the White House for a second term next week.
“With this action, I have now issued more individual pardons and commutations than any president in US history,” Biden stated on Friday.
Presidents in the United States possess broad powers of pardon and commutation, which are often exercised in their final days in office. Last month, Biden commuted the death sentences of 37 federal prisoners to life in prison without parole, reduced the sentences of 1,500 others, and granted pardons to 39, predominantly non-violent drug offenders.
One of Biden’s most contentious pardons was awarded to his son, Hunter, who faced convictions for federal gun and tax law violations last year. The pardon encompassed offenses “Hunter has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024,” extending beyond the timeline of the gun and tax violations and including his tenure on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company.
Republicans allege that a collection of emails and messages from Hunter’s laptop, discovered in 2020, indicates that he leveraged this position to benefit the Biden family by selling access to his father, who was serving as vice president at the time.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
US President Joe Biden has set a record for the most pardons and clemencies granted by an American president by commuting the prison sentences of nearly 2,500 non-violent drug offenders.
According to a statement from the White House on Friday, the commutations affect individuals “who are serving disproportionately long sentences compared to the sentences they would receive today under current law, policy, and practice.”
Most of these individuals received lengthy sentences due to the differences between crack and powder cocaine and “outdated sentencing enhancements for drug crimes,” as detailed in the statement. The discriminatory distinction between crack and powder cocaine was abolished by the 2010 Fair Sentencing Act, while the 2018 First Step Act reduced mandatory minimum sentences for serious drug offenses.
The Fair Sentencing Act was enacted during Barack Obama's presidency, whereas the First Step Act was introduced under Donald Trump, who is set to return to the White House for a second term next week.
“With this action, I have now issued more individual pardons and commutations than any president in US history,” Biden stated on Friday.
Presidents in the United States possess broad powers of pardon and commutation, which are often exercised in their final days in office. Last month, Biden commuted the death sentences of 37 federal prisoners to life in prison without parole, reduced the sentences of 1,500 others, and granted pardons to 39, predominantly non-violent drug offenders.
One of Biden’s most contentious pardons was awarded to his son, Hunter, who faced convictions for federal gun and tax law violations last year. The pardon encompassed offenses “Hunter has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024,” extending beyond the timeline of the gun and tax violations and including his tenure on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company.
Republicans allege that a collection of emails and messages from Hunter’s laptop, discovered in 2020, indicates that he leveraged this position to benefit the Biden family by selling access to his father, who was serving as vice president at the time.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
