Biden issues 39 presidential pardons and commutes 1,500 sentences

The White House says it is the highest number of presidential acts of clemency in a single day.

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The White House described it as the most acts of presidential clemency issued in a single day. It comes after Biden made the decision to pardon his own criminally convicted son, Hunter Biden.

Announcing the move, Biden said those pardoned had "shown successful rehabilitation and have shown commitment to making their communities stronger and safer".

The US Constitution decrees that a president has the broad "power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States, except in cases of impeachment".

The White House released a pardon list of 39 people that said the individuals had committed either a "non-violent offense" or a "non-violent drug offense". It did not name the specific crimes they were convicted of committing.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c30nq7r0v2mo

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