Biden Grants Clemency to Over 1,500 People

In a significant clemency move, President Biden commuted the sentences of approximately 1,500 individuals and pardoned 39 Americans for nonviolent crimes, marking the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history. This action follows heightened pressure from various advocacy groups and religious leaders to address the fate of the 40 inmates on federal death row, particularly as former President Trump has expressed intentions to resume federal executions. While Biden has taken steps to reduce sentences for those affected by the pandemic, including Jerry Donald Manning and Audrey Diane Simon from Wisconsin, he faces calls to commute the death sentences of high-profile inmates like Dylann Roof. The recent pardons come amidst Biden's broader commitment to reforming the justice system and addressing racial disparities. Advocacy for further clemency actions continues as Biden is urged to act decisively before the end of his term.