As President Joe Biden nears the end of his term, he’s decided to deliver what could be called a grand finale in the realm of executive clemency, offering the largest single act of mercy in modern history. On Thursday, Biden commuted the sentences of approximately 1,500 people and granted 39 presidential pardons. The move is a glaring display of the president’s selective application of justice, raising questions about whether the law really applies equally under his administration.
This sweeping clemency comes as a response to those prisoners who were released during the pandemic and placed on home confinement after serving at least a year of their sentences. Aiming to “right the wrongs” of mass incarceration, Biden issued pardons to U.S. citizens convicted of nonviolent crimes, including drug offenses, all of whom had allegedly “shown successful rehabilitation.” Among the recipients was a nurse, a pilot, and an addiction counselor—just a few of the individuals now walking free after being granted mercy by the president. But while these acts of forgiveness might seem noble on the surface, there’s a glaring hypocrisy that can’t be overlooked.
It was only earlier this month that Biden himself was embroiled in controversy when he granted clemency to his own son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted on federal charges. Hunter’s own brushes with the law raise serious doubts about the president’s commitment to fairness. After pleading guilty to multiple tax violations and federal gun charges, Hunter’s pardon effectively waved away his criminal actions in what can only be described as a presidential family affair. The very same president who now seeks to relieve thousands of Americans burdened by the justice system, conveniently found a way to erase his own son’s criminal record.
What’s striking is the lack of accountability. While thousands of everyday Americans may be finding reprieve under Biden’s blanket clemency, the president’s own family has reaped the benefits of legal forgiveness under far more questionable circumstances. If anyone else in this country were found guilty of similar offenses, there’s little doubt they would not see the same leniency—especially when dealing with the weight of federal tax and firearm crimes.
Biden’s clemency serves as a reminder that, under his watch, the laws seem to bend for those with the right connections. While he champions the cause of rehabilitation and reform for others, his administration continues to show that the rule of law is more of a guideline—one that seems to vanish entirely when it involves his own family.