Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) is urging President Biden to problem clemency to inmates on dying row, after the president signed a pardon for his son over the weekend.
“Don‘t stop at Hunter Biden,” Bowman instructed a CNN panel on Monday. “Pardon the 40 people who are on death row right now to get them off of death row, number one.”
“Number two, pardon the 3000 people who are in federal jail for trumped up marijuana charges, pardon them as well, so they can get back to their communities and contribute to their economies,” the New York Democrat, who misplaced his reelection bid through the main election, stated. “That‘s what the president should do.”
Lawmakers together with Reps. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), Mary Homosexual Scanlon (D-Pa.) and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) have collectively referred to as on Biden to proceed granting clemency to teams convicted of nonviolent drug offenses.
Their push comes after the president granted clemency in October 2022 to people convicted of straightforward marijuana possession offenses. He expanded forgiveness to these charged with possession in December 2023.
“Now is the time to use your clemency authority to rectify unjust and unnecessary criminal laws passed by Congress and draconian sentences given by judges,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter final month.
“The grant of pardons and commutations and the restoration of rights will undoubtedly send a powerful message across the country in support of fundamental fairness and furthering meaningful criminal justice reform,” they added.
Biden, who constantly pledged that he would keep out of his son’s authorized issues, argued that his son’s circumstances have been political. The White Home defended the president’s pardon, pointing to President-elect Trump’s vows of retribution in his subsequent time period.
Trump, who has instructed he may problem clemency to rioters charged for his or her roles within the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol, attacked Biden over the pardon.
“Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years?” the president-elect wrote in a Sunday submit on Reality Social. “Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!”
