Lawmakers Beg Trump To Reconsider Pardons

Five Americans previously denied pardons by Joe Biden are now turning to President Donald Trump—calling for a second chance and raising concerns over Biden’s mental fitness and biased decisions.

These individuals include former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., Trump’s ex-attorney Michael Cohen, radio personality Warren Ballentine, Rabbi Michael Rothenberg, and cardiologist Dr. Michael Jones. All were convicted of nonviolent federal offenses and formally applied for presidential clemency under the Biden administration.

All were rejected.

Now they’re urging President Trump to revisit their cases and restore fairness to a system they say Biden politicized.

Was Biden’s Clemency Influenced by Mental Decline?

In a powerful joint op-ed published in The Hill, the five questioned whether President Biden’s mental state may have impacted his judgment during critical clemency decisions.

“The issue is not his authority to pardon,” they wrote. “It’s whether his cognitive decline affected how those decisions were made—especially when he favored close associates and family members.”

This concern follows a growing wave of reporting—books like Original Sin—highlighting Biden’s apparent struggles with memory, focus, and decision-making during his final months in office.

Selective Pardons and Political Favoritism

While Biden denied clemency to thousands, including the five nonviolent offenders now speaking out, he issued sweeping, unconditional pardons to his son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted of federal gun and tax crimes, and to other family members and allies.

Critics argue Biden used his pardon power to protect political allies, not to give second chances to everyday Americans who had served their time.

According to Biden’s team, he issued more than 2,500 acts of clemency, primarily for nonviolent drug offenses. However, his most controversial pardons were handed out at the end of his term—including blanket pardons for five family members and several officials previously scrutinized by Republicans.

A Broken Justice System—And a Second Chance Through Trump

Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who served in Congress for 17 years before pleading guilty to misusing campaign funds in 2013, is calling on President Trump to act.

“Millions of Americans are trapped in a perpetual state of felonization,” Jackson said. “They’ve served their time but can’t get jobs, housing, or their lives back. President Trump can fix this.”

Jackson’s application was denied on Biden’s final day in office—despite support from civil rights leaders and his own father. He now hopes that Trump will use his second term to revisit and reinstate clemency requests Biden ignored.

Trump’s Leadership on Clemency: A Stark Contrast

During his first term, President Trump used the pardon power boldly and transparently—from freeing wrongly accused conservatives like Michael Flynn and Roger Stone, to granting clemency for forgotten Americans caught in the justice system.

In his second term, Trump has already taken bold steps:

• Pardoning nearly all January 6 defendants on Day One.
• Commuting sentences for nonviolent offenders.
• Freeing individuals with strong public support, including Republican lawmakers and wrongfully targeted citizens.

A Call for Justice—and a Path to Redemption

“We’re not asking for special treatment,” Jackson said. “We’re asking for fair treatment—and President Trump can deliver that.”

He added that a sweeping clemency effort under Trump could be historic—with the potential to help tens of millions of Americans move on from outdated convictions.

“This could be the path to a Nobel Peace Prize,” Jackson said. “No courts, no Congress—just the President’s leadership. And the people will never forget it.”

Key Takeaways for Readers Age:

• Biden’s use of pardons favored his family and political allies.
• Everyday Americans, especially nonviolent offenders, were left behind.
• President Trump is now being called on to deliver real justice and restore integrity to the clemency process.