Biden uses sweeping clemency powers for the first time – The Washington Post
Biden uses sweeping clemency powers for the first time The Washington Post
Today, President Biden used his sweeping clemency powers for the first time, announcing three pardons and the commutations of 75 sentences of nonviolent drug offenders. The announcements signal a far more targeted use of his authority than employed by former president Donald Trump, who granted pardons to political allies and celebrities who ran afoul of the law, among others. Biden’s actions follow calls by criminal justice advocates to grant leniency in a system that often disproportionately affects people of color.
Meanwhile, a pair of Cabinet officials are making high-profile appearances on Capitol Hill on Tuesday. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is testifying about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while Attorney General Merrick Garland is discussing issues related to the Justice Department.
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The latest: White House still courting Manchin, but it’s not clear they’ll reach a deal
The White House hasn’t given up courting the elusive 50th vote needed from Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) to resurrect parts of Biden’s Build Back Better agenda. But it’s not clear there’s a deal to be had before the November elections.
The Post’s Jeff Stein reports that White House officials are confronting the real fear that they will fail to reach any deal with Manchin — even one that leaves out most of what Biden had initially hoped to accomplish. Jeff cites three senior administration officials and three outside advisers in communication with the White House, who all spoke on the condition of anonymity to comment on internal talks. Jeff writes:
In recent weeks, White House officials have quietly tried gauging Manchin’s interest in a package that would consist primarily of clean-energy initiatives, prescription drug reform and higher taxes on the rich and corporations, the people said.The ideas discussed internally include more than $500 billion of deficit reduction, the people said. On Monday, a Manchin spokeswoman reiterated that he supports measures to boost U.S. energy production, lower prescription drug costs and raise tax revenue from corporations and the rich.
You can read Jeff’s full story here.
