Biden Reportedly Ignored His Own DOJ To Commute ‘Violent’ Criminals In Final Days In Office

Former President Joe Biden ignored recommendations made by his own Department of Justice (DOJ) and commuted the sentences of some violent criminals in his final days in office, according to an internal email reviewed by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

In his last few days as president, Biden issued a presidential commutation for the drug sentences of almost 2,500 criminals, some of whom had violent backgrounds. Just about 10% of the former president’s list were recommended to receive commutations from Biden from his own DOJ, according to an internal email reviewed by the WSJ. (RELATED: Biden Uses Final Hours Of Presidency To Let Fauci, Others Off The Hook)

On the list of individuals Biden described as “non-violent” were several people found guilty of illegally possessing firearms, and two men whose actions resulted in the death of a police officer.

The commutations faced backlash from prosecutors, the WSJ reported, which caused DOJ pardon attorney Elizabeth Oyer to address her colleagues.

“While I am a strong believer in the possibility of second chances through clemency, the process by which yesterday’s action was carried out was not what we had hoped and advocated for,” Oyer wrote in the email reviewed by the WSJ.

“I understand that some of the clemency grants are very upsetting,” she added.

Among those commuted was Adrian Peeler, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison for conspiracy to disburse significant amounts of cocaine, the WSJ reported. Before his federal prison sentencing, Peeler was sentenced for murderous conspiracy connected to the 1999 killings of an 8-year-old boy and his mother. Peeler will now be freed in 2025, as opposed to 2033, according to the WSJ.

Lairon Graham, who was serving a 22-year-prison sentence for heading up a conspiracy aimed at selling fentanyl, cocaine and heroin, was also commuted by Biden, the WSJ reported. Graham had previously pled guilty to separate charges that he coerced young women into engaging in sex work, including by brutally beating a victim almost daily.

A former Biden White House official who was familiar with the commutation process told the WSJ that the 2,500 names were put together by lawyers from the White House Counsel’s Office. Individuals chosen were sentenced when there was a disparity between punishments for crack cocaine and powder cocaine, the official told the outlet, adding that there was input from the U.S. Sentencing Commission and DOJ.

They left off individuals who had a significant risk for recidivism or engaged in additional egregious conduct, such as having a firearm connection to their drug crimes, the former official told the WSJ.

“This action was not carried out in consultation with the Office of the Pardon Attorney and there was little coordination with the Department,” Oyer included in her email, according to the WSJ, adding that the White House included people on its list that the DOJ had rejected. Oyer continued to say that hundreds were excluded from the list that the DOJ had recommended, the WSJ reported.

🚨BREAKING🚨 Biden pardoned his brother Frank, his other brother James, James’ wife Sara Biden, his sister Valerie Owens and her husband, John Owens in one of his last acts as president. James and Frank were connected to Hunter Biden’s business dealings with overseas partners. pic.twitter.com/1HaeYBm5Fo

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) January 20, 2025

In addition to the commutations of 2,500 criminals, Biden also issued a last-minute pardon of his family. The former president, moments from Trump’s swearing in, pardoned his brother Frank, his other brother James, James’ wife Sara Biden, his sister Valerie Owens and her husband, John Owens. (RELATED: KJP Takes Verbal Flogging From Reporters After Biden Pardons Hunter)

“I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics,” Biden said in a statement released by the White House. “But baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety, and financial security of targeted individuals and their families. Even when individuals have done nothing wrong and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage their reputations and finances.”