We post news and comment on federal criminal justice issues, focused primarily on trial and post-conviction matters, legislative initiatives, and sentencing issues.

BIDEN GRANTS PARDONS  – BUT JUST FOR SOME TURKEYS

President Biden bettered his dismal record on granting pardons and commutations yesterday. Unfortunately, the gobbling recipients are not in BOP custody.

Two Minnesota turkeys, Liberty and Bell, arrived at the White House in a stretch Cadillac Escalade to receive a pardon from the President in the annual darkly humorous (except to the incarcerated and their families) White House Thanksgiving ceremony. The Washington Post calls a “hollow tradition.”

Although Biden branded it “the biggest edition of this wonderful White House Thanksgiving tradition,” the Post said the “event felt exceedingly breezy and unmemorable — even by turkey-pardon standards.”

The birds hatched in July on a farm near Willmar. Within 150 miles of the farm are nearly 1,500 men and women in BOP facilities, none of whom received pardons or commutations yesterday. Over 18,000 clemency applications are on file at the DOJ (not including the two for the turkeys).

Last week, Pardon Attorney Elizabeth Oyer visited FCI Petersburg to provide a series of educational sessions about the federal clemency process. Given the 18,000-application backlog and low number of Biden pardons and commutations granted almost three years into his term, the purpose of the Pardon Attorney’s “initiatives” is unclear. The Pardon Attorney said the visit and prior sessions at Ft Dix, Lewisburg and Aliceville are part of a year-round initiative by her Office “to increase the accessibility and transparency of the clemency process through education and community engagement.”

Better gobbledygook couldn’t have emanated from the happy birds, Liberty & Bell. And they should be happy. Today, without even asking for it, they got something over 18,000 federal prisoners have asked for but not gotten: clemency.

MPR News, Minnesota turkeys headed to White House for presidential pardon (November 17, 2023)

Washington Post, Biden turns 81, pardons turkeys, confuses Britney for Taylor (November 20, 2023)

Prison Policy Initiative, Executive inaction: States and the federal government fail to use commutations as a release mechanism (April 2022)

Dept of Justice Press Release, Readout of Pardon Attorney Elizabeth Oyer’s Visit to Federal Correctional Institution Petersburg (November 15, 2023)

– Thomas L. Root