Biden Grants Historic Clemency to 1,500, Including Convicted Fraudsters

The largest single-day act of clemency in U.S. history draws sharp criticism over high-profile cases involving public corruption and fraud.

President Biden commuted the sentences of 1,500 individuals in what the White House describes as the largest single-day clemency action by a U.S. president.
The clemency list included Rita Crundwell, convicted of embezzling $53 million from Dixon, Illinois, in the largest municipal fraud in U.S. history, and Michael Conahan, a judge implicated in the 'kids-for-cash' scandal.
Local officials and residents in Dixon expressed outrage, calling Crundwell's commutation a betrayal of justice and a disservice to victims of her crimes.
The White House stated the clemency focused on non-violent offenders who had served time on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic and successfully reintegrated into society.
Critics argue the decision undermines public trust, with some questioning the inclusion of individuals convicted of significant public corruption and fraud.