President Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 individuals and issued 39 pardons in what the White House describes as the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history, according to an announcement made Thursday morning.

The commutations were granted to individuals who had been placed on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic and “have successfully reintegrated into their families and communities,” the White House stated. Those receiving pardons had been convicted of non-violent crimes.

“The President has issued more sentence commutations at this point in his presidency than any of his recent predecessors at the same point in their first terms,” White House officials said in a statement.

Biden has indicated that additional pardons and clemencies are forthcoming before the conclusion of his term. “I will take more steps in the weeks ahead. My Administration will continue reviewing clemency petitions to advance equal justice under the law, promote public safety, support rehabilitation and reentry, and provide meaningful second chances,” Biden said.

Controversy Over Hunter Biden’s Pardon

The president’s sweeping clemency comes at a time of bipartisan criticism for his decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, who had faced felony gun and tax charges.

Despite previously stating on multiple occasions that he would not interfere in his son’s legal proceedings, Biden reversed his stance on December 1, issuing the controversial pardon. Public backlash was evident, with a poll from The Associated Press revealing that only 2 in 10 Americans approved of the decision.

Hunter Biden was convicted in two separate federal cases earlier this year. He pleaded guilty to federal tax charges in September and was convicted in June on three felony gun charges for falsifying information on a required gun purchase form, where he denied illegal drug use or addiction.

In a statement defending the pardon, the president argued that his son had been “singled out only because he is my son” and suggested there was an effort to “break Hunter” in order to “break me.”

While Biden’s clemency actions reflect a broader commitment to criminal justice reform, the controversy surrounding his son’s case continues to spark debate among both political allies and opponents.