When we talk about presidential mercy, most folks think about those dramatic, late-night headlines where a high-profile figure gets a "get out of jail free" card. You probably remember the frenzy when Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter. It felt like the air went out of the room for a second. But if you're asking how many pardons has biden given, the answer is actually a lot more complicated—and a lot bigger—than just one family member.
Honestly, the numbers are kind of wild.
💡 You might also like: Why Live Feed News Fox Still Dominates the Digital Attention Span
Depending on how you count them, Joe Biden basically shattered modern records. If you look at "clemency" as a whole—which includes pardons (wiping the slate clean) and commutations (shortening a sentence)—he went further than anyone since the early 20th century. We're talking about a massive shift in how the White House uses the "power of the pen."
The Raw Numbers: Breaking Down the Record
Let's get into the weeds. By the time he left office in January 2025, the total number of clemency acts Joe Biden signed stood at 4,245.
To put that in perspective, that's more than double what Barack Obama did in eight years. It even tops Franklin D. Roosevelt's total, and FDR was in office for twelve years. But here’s the kicker: of those 4,245 acts, only 80 were individual, traditional pardons. The vast majority—over 4,160—were commutations.
Why the huge gap? Basically, Biden’s strategy wasn't about clearing names as much as it was about shortening what he called "disproportionately long" sentences. He had a specific focus on non-violent drug offenses, particularly those involving the old crack-versus-powder cocaine sentencing disparity.
- Individual Pardons: 80
- Commutations: 4,165
- Total Clemency Actions: 4,245
Wait, there's more. If you've seen the number 8,064 floating around, you're not seeing things. That higher number includes "categorical" pardons. These are the blanket proclamations where he pardoned thousands of people at once for simple marijuana possession under federal law. He didn't have to write their names out one by one, but the legal effect was the same.
The "Final Sprint" Strategy
Most presidents wait until the very end to do the controversial stuff. Biden took that to an extreme. Believe it or not, roughly 96% of his clemency actions happened in his final fiscal year.
It was like a dam breaking.
On January 17, 2025—literally days before the inauguration—he commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 people in a single day. It was the largest single-day act of mercy in U.S. history. He also used those final hours to commute the sentences of almost everyone on federal death row, moving them to life in prison instead.
The Names You Know (and the Ones You Don't)
We have to talk about the "preemptive" pardons. Usually, a pardon comes after you've been convicted. But Biden used a rare legal maneuver to pardon people for crimes they might be charged with in the future.
- Hunter Biden: This was the big one. A full and unconditional pardon for any federal offenses committed between 2014 and 2024.
- The Biden Family: He also extended this to his brother James, his sister Valerie, and other relatives, citing "politically motivated attacks."
- Anthony Fauci & Mark Milley: He issued pardons to high-ranking officials who had become targets of political vitriol, effectively shielding them from potential federal prosecutions by the incoming administration.
- January 6th Committee: He even issued a blanket pardon for the members and staff of the House Committee that investigated the Capitol riots.
What This Means for the Justice System
For years, the trend for presidents was to be "tough on crime." George W. Bush only gave 200 clemencies. George H.W. Bush gave even fewer. Biden flipped the script. He granted roughly 29% of all the clemency petitions he received. That’s the highest percentage since Richard Nixon.
Critics, of course, called it an abuse of power, especially regarding his family and political allies. But advocates for criminal justice reform saw it as a necessary correction for decades of overly harsh sentencing. They point to the 1,500 people he let go home during the COVID-19 pandemic who were finally given permanent relief from their sentences.
How the Pardon Process Actually Works
Usually, you have to apply through the Office of the Pardon Attorney at the Department of Justice. It’s a grueling process that takes years. You need references, a clean record since your conviction, and a lot of luck.
Biden bypassed this for his biggest moves.
When he did the marijuana pardons, he didn't wait for applications. He just issued a proclamation. If you were one of the 6,500+ people covered, you could just go to a website, put in your info, and get a certificate. It was "mercy at scale."
Actionable Insights: What You Should Do Now
If you or someone you know is looking for information on how to navigate the federal pardon system, here’s the reality of the post-Biden landscape:
- Check Eligibility: If you have a federal conviction for simple marijuana possession, check the DOJ's online portal. You might already be pardoned and just need the paperwork to prove it for a job or apartment.
- The "Five-Year Rule": Generally, you can’t even apply for a pardon until five years after you’ve finished your sentence and any parole.
- State vs. Federal: This is the big one people miss. Biden's pardons ONLY apply to federal crimes. If you were convicted in a state court (which is where most drug crimes happen), these pardons do nothing for you. You have to look at your state's governor for that.
- Legal Counsel: Don't try to DIY a clemency petition. They are incredibly easy to reject on technicalities. Look for legal aid organizations that specialize in "second chance" litigation.
The 4,245 acts of mercy Joe Biden left behind will be debated for decades. Whether you see it as a compassionate correction of a broken system or a last-minute political maneuver, the sheer volume is undeniable. He changed the lives of thousands of families—and he did it faster than almost anyone before him.