Opponents of the death penalty had urged President Biden to take this step, given the number of executions that took place during President-elect Donald Trump's first term.
Biden is now the third president to pardon a relative, after Bill Clinton and Donald Trump. Here's a look at the commonplace — yet often controversial — presidential power.
President Biden commuted the sentences for 11 individuals serving time for nonviolent drug offenses. He also expanded pardons for the offense of simple marijuana possession and use under federal law.
A national council of current and formerly incarcerated women wants the president to grant 100 women clemency by April 30. There's a backlog of 14,000 petitions for commutations or pardons.
The Founding Fathers intended the presidential pardon power to protect the national interest. Leading clemency experts question Trump's use of his authority.
