Washington, December 13 – In a historic move, U.S. President Joe Biden granted clemency to approximately 1,500 individuals on Thursday, including four Indian-Americans: Meera Sachdev, Babubhai Patel, Krishna Mote, and Vikram Dutta.

A Commitment to Second Chances

In his statement, President Biden emphasized America's foundation on opportunity and redemption. He remarked, “As President, it is my great privilege to extend mercy to those who have demonstrated repentance and rehabilitation. Today, I am pardoning 39 individuals who have shown commitment to rebuilding their lives and strengthening their communities. Additionally, I am commuting the sentences of nearly 1,500 others.”

This large-scale clemency marks a significant step toward addressing disparities in sentencing, particularly for non-violent offenses, including drug-related crimes.

The Four Indian-Americans Pardoned

Meera Sachdev (63): Convicted in December 2012 for committing fraud at a Mississippi cancer center, Sachdev was sentenced to 20 years in prison and ordered to repay $8.2 million.

Babubhai Patel: In 2013, Patel received a 17-year sentence for healthcare fraud and related crimes.

Krishna Mote (54): Sentenced to life imprisonment in 2013 for drug-related offenses.

Vikram Dutta (63): Convicted in January 2012 by a Manhattan federal court, Dutta was serving a 235-month prison term.

Historic Act of Mercy

This mass clemency is among the largest in recent history and underscores the Biden administration's commitment to criminal justice reform. By prioritizing rehabilitation and second chances, the move highlights efforts to rectify systemic inequities in sentencing.

These pardons symbolize a new chapter for the beneficiaries and reinforce America’s ethos of redemption and hope.

Washington, December 2 - Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden issued a “full and unconditional pardon” to his son, Hunter Biden, on Sunday, alleging that the charges against him were politically motivated and targeted solely because he is the President's son.

In a late-night statement, Biden said, “Throughout my career, I have adhered to one principle: tell the American people the truth. They are fair-minded and will think critically. The truth here is that while I believe in the justice system, my experience has shown that partisan politics can corrupt the process and make a mockery of justice. I decided this weekend to act, and delaying it further served no purpose.”

The pardon reverses Biden’s earlier stance of not using presidential powers for personal family matters. It spares Hunter Biden from potential prison sentences tied to federal gun and tax charges for which he had been convicted earlier this year.

Charges and Legal Battles

Hunter Biden faced charges for allegedly lying on a federal form regarding his drug use while purchasing a firearm in 2018 and for failing to pay over $1.4 million in taxes. He was scheduled to appear in a California court soon, with potential sentences ranging from 17 to 25 years for the respective charges.

In June, Biden publicly stated that he would not intervene in the judicial proceedings, adding that he respected the court’s decisions. However, his pardon comes as the political landscape grows tense ahead of the next presidential election, where Biden faces a likely rematch with Donald Trump.

Allegations of Political Bias

President Biden emphasized the selective nature of the prosecution, stating, “There is no precedent for charging someone with felonies based solely on how they filled out a gun form, absent any aggravating circumstances.” He also noted that tax issues like Hunter’s are often resolved through non-criminal settlements.

Biden argued that his son was unfairly targeted, saying, “Hunter has been subjected to relentless attacks and selective prosecution over the past five and a half years. The aim was to break him, and in doing so, to break me as well.”

Reaction and Implications

The pardon concludes a lengthy legal ordeal for Hunter Biden, who first disclosed being under federal investigation in December 2020, just a month after his father was elected President. Biden’s move has sparked debate, with critics accusing him of using presidential powers to shield his family while supporters argue the charges were unjust.

In his own statement, Hunter Biden expressed gratitude and pledged to live a life dedicated to helping others. “I have taken responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction. These errors have been used as a tool to publicly shame me and my family for political gain,” he said.

Political Fallout

The pardon comes just weeks after Republicans regained control of the House of Representatives, fueling speculation of intensified scrutiny over the Biden administration. It also casts a shadow over the Democratic Party as Biden prepares for a challenging re-election campaign.

This move may be seen as a preemptive step to end the legal distractions surrounding his family, but it risks alienating centrist voters who may perceive the pardon as an abuse of presidential authority.

Hunter Biden’s legal saga has drawn significant media attention, particularly with allegations of influence peddling and misuse of power in his business dealings. The President’s decision to pardon his son is likely to become a focal point in upcoming political debates.

As Biden concluded in his statement, “I hope the American people understand why a father and a President arrived at this decision.”

Washington, Sep 6 (IANS) US President Joe Biden will focus on "fundamentally reshaping and scaling up the multilateral development banks" during his upcoming visit this week to New Delhi for the G20 leaders' meeting, the White House said.

Biden's other priorities for the summit will include debt relief for countries, climate, health, digital technology, including commitments with respect to a more inclusive digital transformation and a responsible path and approach to Artificial intelligence development.

The US President's plans have not changed because of wife, First Lady Jill Biden, testing positive for Covid-19. He has tested negative but due to possible exposure to the virus he will be undertaking the usual precautions mandated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), such as wearing masks in public places and around people.

Biden will leave for New Delhi on Thursday, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday at a news briefing to preview the visit. 

Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a bilateral meeting on Friday and then the US President will attend  G20 meetings on Saturday and Sunday.

This will be Biden's first visit to India as President. He went there last in 2013 as Vice-President.

"Delivering on an agenda fundamentally reshaping and scaling up the multilateral development bank's, especially the World Bank and the IMF (the International Monetary Fund)" will be one of the main focuses of the US President, Sullivan said.

He added: "We know that these institutions are some of the most effective tools that we have for mobilising transparent, high quality investment into developing countries. And that's why the US is championing the major effort that is currently underway to evolve these institutions so that they are up to the challenges of today and tomorrow." 

Nominating Indian-American Ajay Banga to head the World Bank was a part of these efforts, the Biden administration has said before.

Pointing to expanded US funding of the World Bank by $25 billion, per a request to US Congress from the Biden administration, the US National Security Adviser said the US expects other partner countries to follow its lead. 

"We've been leading this effort that we hope will see the G20 endorsed this level of ambition and deliver a broader vision of multilateral development banks that are better, bigger and more effective."

Russia's invasion of Ukraine will also be on the table. 

"We know that there'll be continued focus on how the G20 deals with Russia's illegal and ongoing war in Ukraine. The reality is that Russia's illegal war has had devastating social and economic consequences. And the poorest countries on the planet are bearing the brunt of that. As he has done before, President Biden will call for a just and durable peace, one founded in respect for international law, principles of the UN Charter, the precepts of territorial integrity and sovereignty, and he will continue to emphasise that the US will support Ukraine for as long as it takes to redeem these principles."