U.S. President Joe Biden has pardoned 39 Americans convicted of non-violent crimes and commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 others.
The White House stated that this is the largest number of presidential pardons granted in a single day. The names of the individuals pardoned were not disclosed.
Biden said he would take more steps in the coming weeks and continue reviewing pardon requests.
“America was built on the promise of giving second chances,” Biden said in a statement.
“As president, I have the honor of showing mercy to those who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, giving Americans a chance to re-enter daily life and contribute to their communities, and taking steps to remove the sentences of those convicted of non-violent offenses, particularly drug-related ones,” he added.
This decision comes a few weeks after he pardoned his son, Hunter, who was facing criminal charges related to weapons and taxes.
Biden is under pressure from advocacy groups to grant more pardons, including those convicted of death penalties, before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.
The individuals pardoned on Thursday had been convicted of non-violent crimes, such as drug offenses, and had turned their lives around, according to White House attorneys, as reported by REL.
Previously, the president had pardoned 21 people and commuted the sentences of 122 others.
He also pardoned individuals convicted of marijuana-related offenses on federal lands and in the District of Columbia and granted pardons to former members of the U.S. military convicted for violations of the now-repealed ban on homosexual conduct in the military.
