Joe Biden didn't just walk out of the Oval Office; he practically sprinted while throwing a flurry of legal lifelines behind him. Most people think of presidential pardons as those weird, late-night favors for political donors or the occasional turkey on Thanksgiving. But the reality of who did Biden pardon is way more complex—and, frankly, more controversial—than just a list of names. It’s a mix of historic civil rights corrections, massive group reprieves, and a few high-profile "blank checks" that have legal scholars still arguing today.
If you’re looking for a simple list, you might be disappointed. Why? Because Biden used his clemency powers in a way that was fundamentally different from his predecessors. He broke records. He focused on systemic issues like marijuana and the "crack vs. powder" sentencing gap. And yeah, he definitely took care of his own.
The Big Ones: Family and Political Allies
Let’s address the elephant in the room first. The most famous person on the list is obviously Hunter Biden.
This wasn't just a pardon for the specific tax and gun charges he was facing. It was a "full and unconditional" pardon for anything Hunter might have done between 2014 and 2024. That’s an eleven-year window. It’s the kind of sweeping legal immunity that made even some of Biden’s supporters do a double-take. He’d spent months saying he wouldn’t do it. Then, on a Sunday night in December 2024, he did it anyway.
But it didn't stop with his son. In his final hours, Biden issued what experts call "preemptive pardons." Basically, he gave legal shields to people who hadn't even been charged with crimes yet, but who he feared might be targeted by the incoming Trump administration.
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The "Shield" List:
- Dr. Anthony Fauci: The face of the COVID-19 response.
- General Mark Milley: The former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
- The January 6th Committee: All the members of Congress and the staff who investigated the Capitol riot.
- His immediate family: Siblings James, Valerie, and Francis Biden, along with their spouses.
It was a defensive move. Biden basically signaled that he didn't trust the next administration to play fair, so he used the most powerful tool in the Constitution to lock the door behind them.
The People You Haven’t Heard Of: Mass Marijuana Pardons
While the Hunter Biden news grabbed the headlines, the sheer volume of who did Biden pardon actually comes from the thousands of regular people caught up in the "War on Drugs."
Back in October 2022, Biden did something no president had done before: he issued a mass proclamation. He pardoned every single person convicted of "simple possession of marijuana" under federal law. He did it again in late 2023 to catch even more people.
Now, let's be real—this didn't clear out the prisons. Why? Because almost nobody is in federal prison for just having a joint. Most marijuana arrests happen at the state level. But what it did do was remove the "civil disabilities" for about 6,500 people. It means they can vote again, sit on a jury, and tell a landlord or employer they don’t have a federal criminal record.
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He didn't stop at marijuana. In January 2025, just days before leaving, he commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 people serving time for nonviolent drug offenses. Many of these folks were stuck in prison because of old laws that punished crack cocaine much more harshly than powder cocaine—a disparity that has historically hit Black communities way harder.
Correcting History: Marcus Garvey and Military Veterans
Sometimes a pardon isn't about letting someone out of jail; it's about fixing a historical stain.
Take Marcus Garvey. He was a massive figure in the 1920s, a Black nationalist leader who founded the UNIA. He was convicted of mail fraud in 1923, which many historians argue was a totally politically motivated setup by J. Edgar Hoover. Garvey died in 1940, but in 2025, Biden finally issued a posthumous pardon. It was a huge win for civil rights activists who had been campaigning for this for decades.
Then there are the veterans. In June 2024, Biden issued a mass pardon for thousands of former service members who were convicted under military law for consensual gay sex. For decades, the military used "Article 125" to kick people out with "other than honorable" discharges just for being gay. This pardon allows those vets to finally access the benefits they earned, like VA healthcare and home loans.
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Breaking Down the Numbers
Honestly, the stats are kind of wild. Biden ended up being the most "merciful" president in modern history if you look at the total number of actions.
- Total Clemency Acts: Over 4,200.
- Commutations: The vast majority of his actions were commutations (reducing a sentence) rather than full pardons.
- Death Row: In a last-minute move, he commuted the sentences of 37 out of 40 people on federal death row to life in prison.
He waited until the very end to do most of this. About 96% of his clemency actions happened in his final months in office. It’s a common trend for presidents, but Biden took it to a whole new level.
Why This Record Matters Now
So, why should you care who Biden pardoned now that he’s out? Because it set a precedent for how the pardon power can be used as a policy tool, not just a way to help individuals.
By pardoning groups—like marijuana users or LGBTQ+ veterans—he showed that a president can "fix" a law he doesn't like without waiting for Congress to act. It also created a massive legal debate about preemptive pardons for people like Fauci. Can you really pardon someone for "any crime they might have committed" if they haven't been accused of anything? The Supreme Court might eventually have to weigh in on that one.
Actionable Steps for Those Seeking Relief
If you or someone you know is looking for information on how these pardons might apply to you, don't just guess. The process is bureaucratic and specific.
- Check the DOJ Certificate Site: If you fall under the marijuana pardons, you don't automatically get a piece of paper. You have to apply for a "Certificate of Pardon" through the Office of the Pardon Attorney.
- Verify the Offense Code: The marijuana pardon only applies to "simple possession" (21 U.S.C. 844). If the charge was "possession with intent to distribute," you aren't covered by the mass proclamation.
- Military Records: Veterans affected by the Article 125 pardon need to contact their specific branch’s Discharge Review Board to have their discharge status formally upgraded.
- State vs. Federal: Remember, Biden’s power only extends to federal crimes. If you were convicted in state court, you have to look to your Governor for a pardon.
Biden’s use of the pardon power was a messy, record-breaking, and highly strategic end to his presidency. Whether you see it as "justice delayed" or a "political shield," it’s a list that will be studied by lawyers for a long time.