Former President Joe Biden has faced growing scrutiny over his clemency decisions, with critics from the Republican Party accused of undermining his legacy. In a recent interview with The Times, Biden asserted that he personally made every one of the decisions, stating that Republicans are questioning them because ‘they’ve done so badly’ and are trying to shift the focus away from their own shortcomings. Biden emphasized that he was clear in his intent to address certain categories of federal convictions, particularly those related to non-violent offenses and individuals who had already served significant portions of their sentences.
The former president highlighted that during the final months of his presidency, he granted a large batch of commutations, reducing the sentences of three distinct categories of federal convictions. These decisions, which included cases involving drug-related offenses and first-time offenders, were part of a broader effort to reform the criminal justice system and focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment. While some applaud Biden’s approach as a step toward justice and equity, others argue that the process lacks transparency and could lead to the release of individuals who pose a risk to public safety.