Court records or official announcements

Biden Issues Largest Single-Day Clemency, Pardoning 39 and Commuting 1,500 Sentences

Dec 13, 2024, 12:08 AM

President Joe Biden has issued a record-breaking wave of clemency, pardoning 39 individuals convicted of nonviolent crimes and commuting the sentences of approximately 1,500 people. The action, described as the largest single-day act of clemency in modern U.S. history, includes individuals who were released from prison and placed on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among those receiving clemency are three people from Washington state and notable figures such as former Dixon, Illinois comptroller Rita Crundwell, who embezzled $53.7 million, and former judge Michael Conahan involved in the "Kids-for-Cash" scandal. The White House stated that President Biden plans to continue reviewing clemency petitions in the final weeks before he leaves office.