President Biden Grants Christmas Clemency to 11, Expands Pot Pardon After Criticism
WASHINGTON—In a move aimed at fulfilling his campaign promise to reform drug laws, President Biden granted pre-Christmas prison commutations to 11 individuals convicted of drug crimes. This announcement comes in conjunction with an expansion of his previous marijuana mass pardon, which fell short of expectations and drew criticism from advocates for failing to release everyone imprisoned for pot-related offenses.
During his lengthy tenure in the Senate, President Biden played a significant role in shaping some of the nation’s strictest drug laws, including one that mandated life imprisonment without parole for marijuana dealing. However, he adopted a more lenient stance during his 2020 campaign, pledging to release everyone incarcerated for marijuana offenses.
Of the 11 individuals granted clemency on Friday, nine were serving sentences for crack cocaine-related crimes, while the remaining two were imprisoned for methamphetamine offenses.
In addition to the prison commutations, President Biden issued a proclamation expanding eligibility for pardons under his marijuana policy introduced last year. This policy allowed for the expungement of records for individuals convicted of simple marijuana possession, both at the federal level and in Washington, D.C.
The expansion now permits the pardoning of those convicted of using marijuana on federal lands. The exact number of potential beneficiaries remains uncertain, as advocates argue that the initial mass clemency fell short, leaving over 2,000 marijuana dealers incarcerated while only focusing on those guilty of possession.
In a statement released on Friday, President Biden said, America was founded on the principle of equal justice under law. Elected officials on both sides of the aisle, faith leaders, civil rights advocates, and law enforcement leaders agree that our criminal justice system can and should reflect this core value that makes our communities safer and stronger. That is why today I am announcing additional steps I am taking to make the promise of equal justice a reality.
However, viral videos criticizing President Biden’s commitment to equal treatment of drug users have seized public attention. One video prominently features Hunter Biden, the president’s son, weighing and smoking crack cocaine while his father, then a senator, boasted of legislation that imposed five-year mandatory sentences for small amounts of crack.
Although the Biden administration has utilized its clemency powers more extensively than its predecessors, activists argue that it falls short of the campaign promises made by President Biden. During protests outside the White House, audio of Biden’s 2019 campaign pledge to release everyone imprisoned for marijuana offenses was played on loop, with demonstrators accusing the administration of deception.
Rapper M-1 of left-wing hip-hop duo Dead Prez, referring to Biden’s previous legislation on drug offenses, stated, Biden fed us rancid hamburger, and the media is celebrating as if he served up filet mignon. If you don’t connect the three-strikes-you’re-out law and the other legislation that he had done in the past with what’s happening today, then you won’t see the full hypocrisy.
M-1 also called attention to Vice President Kamala Harris, who, during her time as San Francisco district attorney, oversaw the conviction of nearly 2,000 people for marijuana offenses. He criticized the inconsistency between her past actions and the narrative being presented by the White House.
In federal prisons, inmates serving sentences for marijuana-related crimes expressed their shock and disappointment that President Biden’s mass clemency did not result in their release, particularly since the recreational use of marijuana is now legal under state law in approximately half of the country.
Despite the mixed reaction to Biden’s actions, experts acknowledge that his administration has taken unprecedented steps to address drug-related offenses through clemency powers. However, it remains to be seen whether these developments will meet the expectations set during the campaign.
As President Biden continues to navigate the complexities of criminal justice reform, scrutiny from both critics and advocates will persist, prompting ongoing debates about equal treatment and the impact of past legislative decisions on the present circumstances.
In the pursuit of reform, President Biden’s next steps will be crucial in determining whether his administration can truly deliver on his promises of equal justice.
