The Philadelphia Inquirer, 12/04/24: “After President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden from federal charges Sunday night, local criminal justice advocates in Philadelphia are calling on the outgoing president to extend the same gesture to thousands of individuals who have requested their own chance at freedom.

Most of the criticism from advocates stems from the small number of clemency grants that Biden has approved in comparison to previous presidents. And they hope he will use his final weeks in office to issue more.

During Biden’s term, the Office of the Pardon Attorney, part of the U.S. Department of Justice, has received nearly 12,000 requests for clemency, many from individuals in the U.S. prison system, the New York Times reported.

Biden has so far issued 25 pardons and 132 commutations and issued other blanket pardons. This is fewer than the 144 pardons and 94 commutations that President-elect Donald Trump issued during his first administration, including pardons for political allies. Former President Barack Obama granted clemency to 1,597 individuals during his two terms in office, according to White House archives.

Advocates say Biden needs to show others the same consideration he showed his son.

‘So while, as a father, I can relate to his decision, I feel like that it’s really unfortunate,’ said Robert Saleem Holbrook, executive director of the Philadelphia-based Abolitionist Law Center. ‘It’s really tragic that he couldn’t find that same empathy for thousands of other people, thousands of others, fathers and parents who have been applying for clemency under his administration.'”

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