Biden Pardons Virginia House Speaker Don Scott and Black Nationalist Marcus Garvey

President Biden Pardons Virginia House Speaker and Black Nationalist

In his final full day in office, President Biden pardoned five individuals, including Virginia House Speaker Don Scott and Black nationalist Marcus Garvey. Scott was convicted of a nonviolent drug offense in 1994 and Garvey was convicted of mail fraud in the 1920s. Biden has used his clemency power to issue more individual pardons and commutations than any other President in U.S. history.

Virginia House Speaker Don Scott

Scott served seven years in prison following his federal drug conviction. Since his release, Scott became a lawyer, got elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, and became the first Black speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 2024. Scott thanked Biden for the pardon and his “commitment to second chances.”

Black Nationalist Marcus Garvey

The posthumous pardon of Marcus Garvey comes after a group of 21 Democratic members of the U.S. Congress signed a letter urging Biden to grant clemency to Garvey. Garvey created the Black Star Line, the first Black-owned shipping and travel line, and founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association. Martin Luther King Jr. described Garvey as “the first man of color in the history of the United States to lead and develop a mass movement.”

Other Individuals Pardoned

In addition to Scott and Garvey, Biden pardoned immigrant right activist Ravi Ragbir, prison reform activist Kemba Smith Pradia, and gun violence prevention advocate Darryl Chambers. All were convicted for nonviolent offenses. Biden also commuted the sentences of Robin Peoples and Michelle West. Both will finish their sentences on February 18, 2025.

Preemptive Pardons for Trump Associates

It remains unclear if Biden will issue preemptive pardons for those President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to prosecute, including those who worked on the House of Representatives’ January 6th Committee.