AOC Urges Biden to Expand Clemency Efforts Following Hunter Biden Pardon
By Jake Beardslee ·
December 3, 2024
In the aftermath of President Joe Biden's recent pardon of his son Hunter, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has called for broader federal clemency actions, particularly for inmates on death row. Josh Morgan / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The New York Democrat criticized the administration's limited use of presidential pardons, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive justice reform. Highlighting the case of Native American activist Leonard Peltier, Ocasio-Cortez argued that there are numerous individuals deserving of commutation. Federal Bureau of Investigation / Wikimedia
"It's less about the fact that the President pardoned his son and more about the fact that he's only really pardoning his son when there are, in fact, many people, including Leonard Peltier, as well as several other cases of many Americans who are on death row, who should be taken off death row, and who are facing the end of their lives if this president does not act," she told The Independent. Franmarie Metzler; U.S. House Office of Photography / Wikimedia
Biden recently pardoned Hunter Biden for federal gun and tax-related charges committed between 2014 and 2024, despite previous White House statements suggesting otherwise. Hunter Biden was convicted in June on three federal gun charges and pleaded guilty to nine tax-related offenses. Josh Morgan-USA TODAY
Ocasio-Cortez expressed concern about the administration's low number of pardons, stating, "I hope that we see is far, far, far more commutations and clemencies that are provided because the current administration has issued a record-low number." nrkbeta / Wikimedia
She warned against Biden leaving office with fewer clemency actions than former President Trump, who issued 237 clemencies during his presidency. Lannis Waters / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The congresswoman also announced her intention to seek the top Democratic spot on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, adding another layer to her political activism. nrkbeta / Wikimedia
