House Democrats Urge Biden for Clemency Action

A coalition of over 60 House Democrats, led by Reps. Ayanna Pressley, Jim Clyburn, and Mary Gay Scanlon, has urged President Biden to utilize his clemency powers in the final months of his presidency to address mass incarceration and related injustices. Their letter highlights the urgent need for pardons and commutations for specific groups, including the elderly, chronically ill, women incarcerated for self-defense, and individuals on federal death row. The representatives emphasize that mass incarceration disproportionately affects marginalized communities and destabilizes families, contributing to intergenerational trauma. Since taking office, Biden has granted 25 pardons and commuted more than 130 sentences, but the lawmakers express that he could make a significantly larger impact before leaving office. With an estimated 2 million people currently incarcerated, the letter reflects a call for compassionate action to rectify unjust sentencing policies, particularly for those incarcerated for non-violent offenses. The representatives stress the importance of this clemency as a tool for healing and family reunification.