On his last full day in office, Joe Biden granted [1] clemency to seven individuals, including a posthumous pardon for Black nationalist and civil rights leader Marcus Garvey.
The move marks Biden’s final use of presidential clemency powers, following his record of issuing more individual pardons and commutations than any other president in U.S. history.
“America is a country built on the promise of second chances,” Biden said in a statement.
“Today, I am exercising my clemency power to pardon five individuals and commute the sentences of two individuals who have demonstrated remorse, rehabilitation, and redemption. These clemency recipients have each made significant contributions to improving their communities.”
Among the individuals granted clemency was Marcus Garvey, a prominent Black nationalist and civil rights leader.
Garvey, who was convicted of mail fraud in 1923 and sentenced to five years in prison, had his sentence commuted by President Calvin Coolidge in 1927.
Advocates and lawmakers have long argued that Garvey’s conviction was politically motivated and aimed at silencing his growing influence.
The White House described Garvey as “a renowned civil rights and human rights leader” who created the Black Star Line, the first Black-owned shipping line, and founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association, an organization celebrating African history and culture.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once called Garvey “the first man of color in the history of the United States to lead and develop a mass movement.”
Biden also granted pardons to four other individuals:
- Ravidath “Ravi” Ragbir, an immigrant rights activist convicted of a nonviolent offense in 2001.
- Kemba Smith Pradia, a criminal justice reform advocate who served six years of a 24-year sentence for a drug offense before her sentence was commuted by President Bill Clinton in 2000.
- Darryl Chambers, whose case details were not specified in the announcement.
- Don Leonard Scott Jr., another individual whose clemency was granted.
Biden commuted the sentences of two additional individuals:
- Michelle West, convicted in the 1990s on charges including conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and drug-related homicide. West has served over three decades in prison, and her sentence will now expire on February 18, 2025. The White House cited West’s “extraordinary rehabilitation and personal transformation” as a reason for her clemency.
- Robin Peoples, serving a 111-year sentence for bank robbery and related offenses from the late 1990s. The White House noted that Peoples likely would have faced a significantly shorter sentence under current laws and policies and praised his rehabilitation efforts while in custody.
The Biden-Harris administration highlighted strong support from civil rights organizations, lawmakers, and community leaders for the individuals granted clemency.
Supporters emphasized the rehabilitation, mentorship, and positive contributions of these individuals during their time in custody.
It remains unclear whether Biden will use his final hours in office to issue more pardons or commutations.
Speculation has circulated regarding the possibility of preemptive pardons for individuals who have been critical of President-elect Donald Trump, though such actions would push the boundaries of presidential clemency powers.
However, the timing and recipients of the pardons will likely spark continued debate as President-elect Trump prepares to take office.