By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-12 20:06:42 | Updated at 2024-12-23 12:29:43
1 week ago
President Joe Biden's sweeping act of clemency is being criticized by Republicans who say the Squad liberals must have influenced him.
The White House announced that nearly 1,500 individuals convicted of non-violent crimes would be granted clemency, a reduction of a criminal penalty.
Many of the individuals on the list were convicted of drug possession or distribution charges that were not associated with violence in any way.
The massive clemency action, touted as 'the most ever in a single day' comes on the heels of the pardon Biden provided to his son Hunter.
Earlier in the week members of the progressive 'Squad' pushed the president to act. And House Republicans say that's why it is not a good look for Biden.
'Well, whatever legacy he thought he was going to have, he trashed it,' Texas Republican Rep. Jake Ellzey told DailyMail.com.
He called it 'nonsense' that Biden would grant the largest act of clemency ever while giving his son Hunter his own pardon on a separate day. 'That's up to the folks on the other side of the aisle to explain,' he added.
'So this isn't a surprise, trust me,' another Texas Republican, Rep. Troy Nehls, told DailyMail.com, he said Biden likely has many more commutations in store for close allies.
President Joe Biden commuted the sentences for nearly 1,500 non-violent criminals on Thursday. Earlier this month he pardoned his son Hunter Biden. Now, some lawmakers are wondering if the Democrat's last-minute moves will hurt his reputation further
President Joe Biden and son Hunter Biden stepping out of a bookstore while shopping in Nantucket, Massachusetts on November 29, 2024. Biden on Sunday issued an official pardon for his son Hunter, who was facing sentencing for two criminal cases related to tax evasion and the purchase of a firearm before his dad pardoned him
'He's still going to do something for maybe some of the the the J6 committee and some of these others,' Nehls continued.
He was suggesting that lawmakers who formed the committee to investigation Donald Trump and the January 6 riot could be preemptively provided protection in case the incoming president wants to look into their probe against him.
'[Anthony] Fauci, all the others, he may do something on January 20,' the Texan added of a last-second pardon for the nation's COVID doctor. 'I'm assuming this isn't the end of it.'
Democrats, however, were excited about Biden's historic action.
'I am heartened by what he did this morning,' Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., said Thursday.
'The president demonstrated this morning that he is focused on issues around equity. He's focused on principle. And he showed up in a powerful way.'
Squad member Ayanna Pressley just days ago was pressuring Biden to provide commutations for criminals, saying: 'He must use that power before leaving office.'
'This is about saving lives and addressing the injustices of our legal system,' her post from Tuesday read.
On Thursday, she celebrated the president's choice.
'Clemency changes and saves lives. And thanks to [Biden], 1,500 families will have their lives changed forever,' she wrote on X Thursday.
One Republican said that Biden's picks were unacceptable choices due to their alleged past history.
The White House touted the sweeping action as historic in its announcement Thursday
Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, arrives at the federal court with his wife Melissa Cohen Biden in June
'In Joe Biden’s mass clemency announcement were two CCP spies and a child predator. How on earth is this acceptable?' Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., posted on X.
'The Left is evil, and this regime must be held accountable for the havoc they’ve wreaked on our country,' he continued.
Biggs was referring to Shanlin Jin, who actually was not included in Biden's latest clemency round up.
He had pleaded guilty to possession of child porn after 47,000 images were found on his computer as was included in a November prisoner swap to go back to China.
