Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images
- Author, James FitzGerald
- Role, BBC News
US President Joe Biden don issue presidential pardons to 39 Americans wey dey convicted for non-violent crimes, and reduce di sentences of nearly 1,500 oda pipo.
Di White House describe am as di most act of presidential clemency wey dem issue for one day. Dem neva give di names of di pipo wey dey involved.
Di US Constitution decree say president get di broad “power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against di United States, except in cases of impeachment”.
Earlier dis month, Biden issue one controversial pardon to im son Hunter, one recent trend of presidents pardoning pipo close to dem.
Announcing di move, Biden tok say pipo wey dem pardon don “show successful rehabilitation and don show commitment to make dia communities stronger and safer”. Dia non-violent convictions include drug offences.
Di reduced sentences na for hundreds of pipo wey dem put for home confinement during di Covid-19 pandemic, and pipo wey dey face sentences wey Biden view say e don dey outdated.
Dem don “show say dem deserve second chance”, Biden tok.
Giving further details of di move, di White House tok say pipo wey dey receive relief include decorated military veteran and pilot wey help fellow church members, one nurse wey help wit di Covid vaccine rollout, and one addiction counsellor.
Biden promise “more steps in di weeks ahead”.
Di president go leave di White House on 20 January 2025, wen dem go inaugurate im successor Donald Trump.
Biden don get record of pardoning fewer pipo dan most presidents for modern US history.
E don issue few categorical pardons in di past, however. Dem dey give dis pardons to sweep number of pipo wey fall under category wey di president outline.
For October 2022, Biden issue full pardon for pipo wey dem convict for simple possession of marijuana, and later expand to include oda marijuana-related offenses.
Earlier dis year, Biden issue anoda full pardon to military personnel and veterans wey dey convicted of offence based on dia sexual orientation.
Trump grant 237 acts of leniency during im first term for di White House, according to di Pew Research Center. Dis include 143 pardons and 94 reduced sentences.
Many bin dey flurry bifor e leave office.
Biden decision earlier dis month to pardon im son, Hunter, continue di trend of presidents on both sides of di US political divide – including Trump – granting leniency to pipo wey dey close to dem.
Biden Jr dey face sentencing for two criminal cases.
Di move dey controversial, since di outgoing president don rule out doing am. But e claim say di cases against im son dey politically motivated.
Biden don also weigh issuing pre-emptive pardons for prominent critics of im successor Trump so im go fit shield dem from retribution afta di president-elect take office, but e don reportedly dey concerned about di precedent wey dis one go set.