House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., called on President Biden to grant more pardons, especially for non-violent offenders, before he leaves office.
“In his final weeks in office, President Biden must exercise the high level of compassion he has consistently shown throughout his life, including toward his son, and grant clemency on a case-by-case basis to working-class Americans in the federal prison system. Their lives have been ruined by unjust and aggressive prosecutions of non-violent crimes,” Jeffries said in a statement.
“This moment demands freedom and justice for all,” he said.
On Sunday, Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden, claiming the charges against him were politically motivated during the campaign.
With this pardon, Hunter Biden is cleared of charges in both federal cases. This comes after a jury found him guilty in June on three felony charges after purchasing and possessing a firearm as a drug user in 2018. He also pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges in September.
President Biden’s decision to pardon his son echoed throughout the Capitol. Several Democratic lawmakers criticized the president’s decision, which reversed his previous stance on the issue.
The president said in a statement that the allegations in his son’s case arose only after political opponents in Congress “attacked me and incited me to oppose my election.”
“Throughout my career, I have followed a simple principle. Tell the American people the truth. They will be fair minded. The truth is this: “I believe in our judicial system, but as we wrestle with this issue, I believe that raw politics has infected this process, resulting in a miscarriage of justice,” the president said.
In his statement, Jeffries emphasized President Biden’s long career and how he has “fought to improve the plight” of Americans.
“Many of these individuals are aggressively prosecuted for non-violent crimes and receive harsh sentences, often without the benefit of adequate legal representation,” Jeffries said. “So many lives, families, and communities have been negatively impacted, especially in Appalachia, America’s cities, and the heartland.”
His comments echo those of others who, before President-elect Trump took office, urged Biden to do as much as possible while in office.
Jeffries did not specify who he wants Biden to pardon, but The Hill has reached out to get more information.
