Reports from diplomatic sources and analysis in international relations publications

Biden's Record Clemency Includes Chinese Spies and Child Porn Convict in Prisoner Swap

Dec 12, 2024, 06:46 PM

President Joe Biden has issued clemency to three Chinese nationals, including two convicted of espionage and one, Shanlin Jin, convicted of possessing over 47,000 images and videos of child pornography. This move was part of a larger clemency initiative where Biden granted 39 pardons and commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 individuals, marking the largest single-day grant of clemency in modern history. The clemency for the Chinese nationals was part of a reported prisoner swap with China. Shanlin Jin, who had been sentenced to 97 months in prison, was released with conditions including permanent departure from the U.S., forfeiture of seized property, and a ban on profiting from his crimes. Critics have raised concerns over the decision, particularly given the nature of the crimes involved. Biden's statement emphasized the importance of second chances and rehabilitation, but his quiet commutations of these sentences weeks before the announcement have drawn scrutiny.