Biden to commute sentences for nearly 1,500 people placed on home confinement during COVID-19 pandemic

President Biden has decided to commute the sentences for nearly 1,500 people, according to the White House.

“Today, President Biden announced that he is granting clemency to nearly 1,500 Americans – the most ever in a single day – who have shown successful rehabilitation and a strong commitment to making their communities safer,” a Dec. 12 statement from the White House reads.

The move is the most significant single-day clemency act of any president in recent U.S. history

Biden’s commutations, which the White House announced in a statement Thursday, are for people who have been serving their sentences from home during the COVID-19 pandemic—a move some correctional facilities made as part of an effort to stop the spread of the virus.

In a separate move, Biden is also pardoning 39 Americans who were convicted of nonviolent criminal acts.

The commutations are most likely one of the earlier steps Biden will take before stepping down from power on Jan. 20, 2025.

Biden said he would continue to consider clemency petitions during the remainder of his term in office. His predecessor, President Barack Obama set the record for single-day clemency with 330 commutations before he left office in 2017.

The subject of clemency and pardoning power has become a recent debate in the news amid growing speculation Biden may use his authority to preemptively pardon people who have not yet been charged.

That debate arose after some members of Congress sent Biden a letter asking him to consider such pardons before his former rival, President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20.

One of Biden’s most controversial moves to date has been to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, who was recently convicted of tax and firearm charges in a case prosecuted by Special Counsel David Weiss.

Other groups such as advocacy organizations have been calling for pardons for those facing the death sentence and others who was convicted of drug charges involving marijuana.

“America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances,” Biden said in the statement.

“As president, I have the great privilege of extending mecy to people who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, restoring opportunity for Americans to participate in daily life and contribute to their communities, and taking steps to remove sentencing disparities for nonviolent offenders, especially those convicted of drug offenses.”

According to the statement, among those receiving clemency were the following:

• 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 who 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.