In the final hours of his presidency, Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons to his family members, Gen. Mark A. Milley, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, and former Representative Liz Cheney. But one notable exclusion from the list with ties to Chicago did not receive the full pardon he desired for himself or countless others: former U.S. Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.
To Jackson, who has also advocated for the issuance of full clemency for scores of debt-paid felons, it’s a missed opportunity for the outgoing President.
“Of course, I am disappointed,” said Jackson Jr. in a statement. “Democrats had an opportunity to end felonization for thousands, if not millions of American citizens who have completed the time they were sentenced to serve.”
Despite Jackson fulfilling his sentence for defrauding his campaign, which consisted of funds he had raised, his bid for clemency was denied. This was after a throng of supporters, including The Chicago Defender, had endorsed him for a full pardon.
A Father’s Appeal: Rev. Jesse Jackson on His Son’s Clemency Request
In December, Jackson’s father, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, wrote to Biden that his eldest son “has devoted his life to what he refers to as his ministry – to public service, and to fighting for equality and equity in civil and human rights for all Americans…”
Before the conviction for using campaign monies to fund his lifestyle, which he said amounted to $75,000 per year for 10 years, Jackson was elected nine times and served for over 17 years as a U.S. Congressman, representing Illinois’ second district. His father also wrote that Jackson holds 13 honorary doctorates and cited his son’s scholarly work since his release, which centers on theology and Constitutional law.
“His mind, and the perch from where he now sits, because of the sum of all his life experience, is a strategic vantage point that would serve all of humanity well, now and in the future.”
However, as Biden’s presidential tenure expired, Jackson’s bid for a pardon from himself and scores of others never came.
Trump’s Pardon Plans: A Stark Contrast to Biden’s Decisions
Moreover, he ultimately learned of his denial on the same day that the freshly inaugurated President Donald Trump revealed plans to pardon hundreds arrested for participating in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. During this attack, over 140 federal and local police officers were assaulted and government property was damaged and stolen (Update: Trump pardoned about 1,500 people involved in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol).
Jackson, however, remains undaunted.
“The fight for the American felon, of which I am one, must continue,” he said. “Americans have been provided forgiveness as a gift in the Constitution — in the function and character of the Office of the President. The process must not be reserved for the privileged.”
Clemency and Politics: The Impact on Voter Dynamics
Jackson also said that he planned to take his appeal to Trump, stating that if the returning President did what Biden had failed to do, it would draw more voters to the Republican party.
“If President Trump wields his pardon pen for the debt paid felon, as it is expected he will for January 6th insurrectionists, I believe he will make inroads into the base of the Democratic Party on a scale that we have not seen,” he said.
Jackson added, “The power to grant grace and new life to an American citizen (70+ million debt paid and unpardoned offenders) is the most powerful power in the constitution and only the President of the United States can do it.”
“The power of grace and mercy is inherent in the office irrespective of the party who holds the office.”
You can read Jackson’s complete statement on his clemency denial here:
“Of course, I am disappointed. Democrats had an opportunity to end felonization for thousands, if not millions of American citizens who have completed the time they were sentenced to serve.”
The fight for the American felon, of which I am one, must continue. Americans have been provided forgiveness as a gift in the Constitution – in the function and character of the Office of the President. The process must not be reserved for the privileged. We are left with the only option to continue our appeal to the 47th President of the United States, Donald John Trump. President Biden issued pardons for his entire family, and left the remainder of American families in felonization.
If President Trump wields his pardon pen for the debt-paid felon, as it is expected he will for January 6th insurrectionists, I believe he will make inroads into the base of the Democratic Party on a scale that we have not seen.
The power to grant grace and new life to an American citizen (70+ million debt paid and unpardoned offenders) is the most powerful power in the Constitution and only the President of the United States can do it. The power of grace and mercy is inherent in the office irrespective of the party who holds the office.”
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