Staff Reports
Former President Biden’s final days in office are now under intense scrutiny after news broke that his administration issued more than 4,000 pardons—a figure that dwarfs those of recent predecessors. What’s especially eye-opening is that these pardons were signed using an auto pen, an impersonal machine, rather than Biden’s own signature. For many Americans, this high-tech shortcut is more than just a bureaucratic oddity—it’s a stark symbol of just how little personal consideration was given to some of the most consequential decisions a president can make.
This torrent of pardons, most issued in the last three months of Biden’s presidency, smacks of a frantic attempt to rewrite history and distract from a string of missteps, including the controversial pardon of his own son, Hunter Biden. Instead of standing up and accepting responsibility, the administration seemed eager to change the headlines and move public attention away from persistent problems like inflation and rising crime rates. It raises a serious question: Was this a good-faith effort at justice reform, or pure political theater orchestrated to benefit party insiders and cronies?
Equally troubling is the revelation that a significant portion of these pardons were not even vetted by the Justice Department. The basic expectation of due diligence was tossed aside in the rush to sign off on names, some of whom include individuals convicted of shocking crimes. The pardon of a convicted killer, responsible for the tragic deaths of a young boy and his mother, has understandably enraged the victims’ families and left law-abiding Americans wondering how public safety could be so callously disregarded.
Supporters of the administration claim that such cases fall outside the usual bounds of federal pardons, shifting blame by pointing to the complex web of state and federal jurisdictions. But when a president wields the immense power of clemency, Americans expect that power to be used responsibly and with moral clarity. Granting a pardon to a child killer, no matter the legal technicalities, sends a chilling message about where this former administration’s priorities truly lie.
In the end, what Americans need from their leaders is not more publicity stunts or high-handed decisions made in the shadows, but transparency, integrity, and a serious commitment to tackling real issues. Instead of pardoning the politically well-connected or those with horrific criminal records, our leaders should be doubling down on public safety, restoring trust in our institutions, and doing the hard work of lowering the cost of living. As voters look to future elections, they will likely remember these last-minute moves—not as a legacy of compassion, but as a cautionary tale of what happens when expediency takes precedence over justice and common sense.
