Who else might Biden pardon after sparing Hunter from sentencing?

On Sunday, President Biden granted a pardon to his son Hunter Biden, despite previously stating that he would not do so in two separate federal court cases.

Biden has only 47 days left in the presidency before Trump's inauguration as the 47th president.

Some politicians and others have urged President Biden to grant pardons to fellow Americans as his term nears its end, including the possibility of "preemptive pardons" for Democrats before Trump's second term begins.

‘Preemptive pardons’ for Trump’s perceived enemies

After the election, Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Ed Markey predicted that Trump would act in a "fascistic way" as president and urged Biden to grant clemency to Democrats who could be charged under a second Trump administration.

During a radio interview last month, Markey stated that he believes Trump will act in a dictatorial, fascistic manner and seek revenge against those he believes harmed him in his first year of administration.

"If it becomes clear by Jan. 19 that his intention is to provide preemptive pardons, I recommend that President Biden do so because it is what our country needs next year."

Trump has consistently accused Democrats and the Biden administration of using "lawfare" against him during his legal battles, with supporters such as Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., declaring last month that "accountability is coming" for those who targeted Trump.

According to Markey's argument, Biden could proactively grant pardons to Democrats who were charged by Trump and accused of engaging in "shams" and "witch hunts."

Sweeping pardons to end mass incarceration and ‘reunite families’

In a letter to Biden, a group of congressional Democrats, including Ayanna Pressley, Mary Gay Scanlon, and James Clyburn, urged him to issue comprehensive pardons to prisoners in order to "reunite families, rectify historical injustices in our legal system, and pave the way for the abolition of mass incarceration."

The lawmakers urged the president to grant pardons to those who have been incarcerated for extended periods and to revise the "harsh" sentences given to criminals. The letter emphasized that the president should take into account pardons for the elderly and ill, those on death row, individuals with unjustified sentencing disparities, and women who were punished for defending themselves against their abusers.

It is now the opportune moment to exercise your clemency power to rectify unjust and excessive criminal laws enacted by Congress and harsh sentences imposed by judges. The issuance of pardons, commutations, and the restoration of rights will undoubtedly send a potent message across the nation in support of fundamental fairness and promoting meaningful criminal justice reform, as stated in a letter to Biden last month.

Pardoning President-elect Donald Trump

Earlier this year, Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, a critic of Trump, stated that Biden should have granted Trump a pardon for his indictments.

Romney stated on MSNBC that Biden should have fiercely opposed the prosecution from proceeding, as it was advantageous for Trump.

""I would have pardoned President Trump if I were President Biden because it would make me the big guy and the person I pardoned a little guy," he said."

Biden is unlikely to pardon Trump, and any pardon would only apply to federal charges brought by special counsel Jack Smith. Legal cases against Trump have stalled since his win last month.

Clemency for drug offenders

Nearly four years in office, Biden has granted pardons to 26 individuals, most of whom were convicted of drug offenses, including conspiracy to distribute marijuana, crack cocaine, and cocaine base.

In October, seven Senate Judiciary Committee members and Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock wrote to Biden urging him to grant clemency to individuals who would have received shorter sentences under the 2018 First Step Act, a criminal justice reform bill that Trump signed into law after bipartisan support.

"Vermont Sen. Peter Welch urged President Biden to use executive clemency to deliver justice to incarcerated people who were sentenced under harsh mandatory minimums that the First Step Act corrected."

Julian Assange

Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, is gaining support from lawmakers and others to be pardoned after years of legal troubles resulting from publishing classified military documents obtained from a source in 2010.

Last week, representatives James McGovern, D-Mass., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., led a bipartisan effort to urge Biden to pardon Assange and convey a clear message that his administration will not target journalistic activity.

"The lawmakers expressed their gratitude to Biden for his administration's decision to resolve the criminal case against publisher Julian Assange and withdraw the extradition request in the UK. This ended Assange's prolonged detention and enabled him to reunite with his family and return to his native Australia."

The U.S. Justice Department reached a deal with Assange to end his imprisonment in the U.K. over charges related to publishing classified military documents. After spending years in the U.K. to avoid extradition to the U.S., Assange has now reached an agreement.

In June, he pleaded guilty to conspiring to unlawfully obtain and disseminate classified national defense information and was sentenced to time served. After the plea deal, he returned to his native Australia.

The letter to Biden from lawmakers stated that the plea agreement terms of Mr. Assange have set a precedent that deepens our concern. Additionally, the review of prosecutions under the Espionage Act shows that Mr. Assange's case is the first time the Act has been used against a publisher.

"If a pardon were granted, it would eliminate the precedent established by the plea and convey a strong message that the U.S. government under your administration will not target or investigate journalists and media outlets for performing their duties."

Biden pardoned his son on Sunday, despite earlier stating that he would not do so before or after Hunter was found guilty in a June gun trial.

"Biden stated that he would abide by the jury's decision after Hunter was convicted in the gun case, saying, "I am not going to do anything.""

On June 11, 2018, Hunter Biden was convicted of lying about his drug use when purchasing a firearm. He was found guilty on three counts: providing false information during the purchase of a gun, providing false information to a federally licensed gun dealer, and possessing a firearm while addicted to a controlled substance.

In his memoir "Beautiful Things," Hunter Biden detailed his extensive and well-documented history with addiction, particularly his spirals of crack cocaine use.

In September, Hunter Biden was tried for three felony tax offenses and six misdemeanor tax offenses in a California court over his alleged failure to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes. However, just before jury selection began in Los Angeles federal court, Hunter entered a surprise guilty plea.

Press secretary Jean-Pierre stated that the president will make other pardon announcements in the near future, but did not disclose any specifics.

Jean-Pierre stated on Monday that the president carefully considers the process of pardoning or granting clemency at the end of the year.

"I won't surpass the president on this matter. However, anticipate more pardons and clemency at the conclusion of this term."

Planet Chronicle Digital's Landon Mion contributed to this report.