If you’re scouring the web today, January 15, 2026, to find out which names Joe Biden just added to the federal pardon list, you might be met with a bit of a historical "wait a second" moment.
Honestly, the most important thing to clear up right away is the calendar. As of today, Joe Biden is no longer the sitting President of the United States. He hasn't been for nearly a year. Following the 2024 election, Donald Trump was inaugurated on January 20, 2025. So, if you're looking for a "pardon of the day" from Biden in 2026, there isn't one—simply because he no longer holds the constitutional pen.
However, the reason people are still searching for this is usually tied to the massive wave of clemency Biden issued during his final days in office. It’s kinda become a landmark moment in legal history that people are still unpacking.
The "Last Call" Pardons: Who Biden Actually Cleared
When Biden was packing up the Oval Office in mid-January 2025, he didn't go quietly on the justice front. He used the "lame duck" period to sign off on some of the most controversial and significant clemency grants we've seen in decades.
The Family and the Inner Circle
Perhaps the most talked-about move was the preemptive pardon of his own son, Hunter Biden. While that happened earlier in December 2024, it set the stage for a final flurry of activity on January 19 and 20, 2025.
Biden also issued pardons for his brother, James Biden, and his sister, Valerie Biden Owens. His reasoning? He basically stated that they were being targeted by political opponents solely because of their last name. It was a move that sparked a ton of debate about whether the pardon power should be used as a "shield" for family members.
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Protecting the Civil Servants
Biden also issued what many called "preemptive insurance" pardons for high-profile officials who had been involved in the January 6 investigations or the COVID-19 response. This list included:
- Dr. Anthony Fauci: The former face of the pandemic response.
- Gen. Mark Milley: The former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
- The January 6 Committee Members: Including figures like Liz Cheney, who Biden argued were at risk of "politically motivated prosecutions" under the incoming administration.
The Leonard Peltier Commutation
One of the most emotional headlines from Biden's final days wasn't a full pardon, but a commutation. Biden commuted the life sentence of Leonard Peltier, the Indigenous activist who had been in prison since 1977.
Peltier’s case has been a lightning rod for human rights groups for nearly 50 years. Biden didn't "forgive" the crime—Peltier was convicted in connection with the deaths of two FBI agents—but he allowed the 80-year-old to serve the remainder of his sentence under home confinement due to his failing health. It was a "mercy over justice" play that satisfied activists but deeply angered former and current law enforcement officials.
The Record-Breaking Numbers
If you’re looking at the raw data, Biden actually holds the record for the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history. On one of his final days, he granted clemency to nearly 1,500 individuals.
Most of these weren't "famous" people. They were mostly non-violent drug offenders who had been released to home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic under the CARES Act. Biden essentially made their "home stay" permanent, ensuring they wouldn't have to return to a prison cell after proving they could live law-abiding lives for over a year.
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A Quick Breakdown of Biden's Clemency Totals:
To give you a sense of scale, here is how the numbers shook out over his four years:
- Total Acts of Clemency: Over 4,200.
- Pardons: Around 80–100 (including the final high-profile ones).
- Commutations: Over 4,100.
Why This Matters Today in 2026
So, why are you searching for this now? Usually, it's because the current administration (the Trump administration) has been very vocal about "undoing" the legacy of the previous four years. There has been a lot of legal talk about whether a new president can somehow "reverse" a pardon.
The short answer: No. Once a pardon is issued and accepted, it’s basically a closed door. The Supreme Court has historically held that the President's power to pardon is one of the few nearly absolute powers in the Constitution.
Misconceptions People Still Have
There’s a lot of "fake news" floating around about current pardons. You might see headlines claiming Biden is still issuing orders. That's just not how it works. Once the clock struck noon on January 20, 2025, that power transferred entirely.
Another big confusion point is the difference between a pardon and a commutation.
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- A Pardon is total legal forgiveness. It wipes the slate clean.
- A Commutation just shortens the sentence. The conviction stays on your record, but you get to go home early.
What to Look for Moving Forward
If you are interested in the current state of pardons, you should be looking at the 2026 actions of President Trump. He has been busy issuing his own set of pardons, most notably for those involved in the January 6 Capitol events, whom he has frequently referred to as "patriots."
The "pardon wars" of the 2020s have turned a once-obscure legal tool into a front-page political weapon. Whether you think Biden was protecting public servants or Trump is correcting injustices, the reality is that the pardon power is being used more aggressively now than at any point in the last century.
Actionable Steps for Staying Informed:
If you want to track who is actually getting pardoned today (by the current administration), here is what you should do:
- Check the DOJ Office of the Pardon Attorney: They maintain a live database of all clemency grants. It's the only 100% factual source.
- Verify the Date: Always check the "published on" date of any news article. Since we're in 2026, many "Biden pardon" stories are archives or retrospectives.
- Look for the Warrant: Every real pardon comes with a "Clemency Warrant." If there isn't an official document number, take the news with a grain of salt.
The era of Joe Biden's pardons ended in January 2025, but the legal ripples of those choices—especially the ones involving his family and January 6 critics—will likely be debated in law schools and on cable news for the rest of the decade.