House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) issued a press release urging President Joe Biden to issue additional pardons.
“Throughout his life, President Joe Biden has fought to improve the plight of hardworking Americans struggling to live paycheck to paycheck. Many of these people have been aggressively prosecuted and harshly sentenced for nonviolent offenses, often without the benefit of adequate legal representation,” the press release said. “Countless lives, families and communities have been adversely impacted, particularly in parts of Appalachia, Urban America and the Heartland.”
“During his final weeks in office, President Biden should exercise the high level of compassion he has consistently demonstrated throughout his life, including toward his son, and pardon on a case-by-case basis the working-class Americans in the federal prison system whose lives have been ruined by unjustly aggressive prosecutions for nonviolent offenses.”
“This moment calls for liberty and justice for all,” he concluded.
Other Democrats criticized Biden’s pardoning of his son.
“The unilateral and near-unlimited nature of the pardon makes it one of the most potent powers held by the president, but with great power comes great responsibility,” Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) said. “As a father, I understand the desire to do everything you can to help and protect your children, but I worry such a sweeping pardon for a close family member sets an unfortunate precedent that undermines trust in the office of the president.”
