President Joe Biden granted more acts of clemency than any U.S. president in recorded history, according to Pew Research Center. Over his four years in office, Biden issued 4,245 clemency actions, including 80 pardons and 4,165 commutations, far surpassing prior presidents like Franklin D. Roosevelt. However, Biden issued relatively few pardons compared to his heavy use of commutations, such as commuting nearly all federal death row sentences to life without parole.
Biden also pioneered “preemptive pardons” for figures like Dr. Anthony Fauci and General Mark Milley, aiming to shield them from potential future legal actions. While most clemency occurred near the end of his term, Biden’s expansive clemency approach contrasts with recent presidents, reversing a long trend of declining pardons.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].