President Joe Biden is facing calls to pardon Marilyn Mosby, the former state's attorney for Baltimore, from the NAACP and other Black social justice organizations. Mosby gained attention for charging the police officers involved in the death of Freddie Gray, but also faced criticism for the wrongful prosecution of Keith Davis Jr. After leaving office, Mosby was indicted and convicted on charges of perjury and making false statements on a loan application. The calls for a pardon come as part of a broader push for criminal justice reform and support for racial justice organizations. The power of the presidential pardon is seen as undemocratic by some, but advocates argue that it can be used to correct wrongful prosecutions and address systemic issues. The Department of Justice's selective prosecution of Mosby has also drawn criticism, with calls for reforming the pardon power [5785394f].
In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott is facing criticism for his handling of pardons. An article by LZ Granderson highlights two specific cases: George Floyd, a Black man whose family sought a posthumous pardon for a minor drug conviction, and Daniel Perry, an Army sergeant who drove into a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters and killed Garrett Foster. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles recommended pardoning Floyd, but Abbott did nothing and the board later reversed its recommendation. Abbott expressed public support for a Perry pardon after his conviction. The article criticizes Abbott for prioritizing a pardon for Perry, who expressed hate for protesters, while ignoring the evidence against him, and for not pardoning Floyd, suggesting that Abbott's actions reflect a worldview that values certain lives over others [7b9e1cf9].
In Washington, Senator Tom Cotton discussed the double standard of justice applied to the January 6, 2021 protesters, noting that some of those who were convicted of misdemeanors had pre-trial incarceration last longer than their sentences. Cotton believes that the January 6 standard was not applied to Black Lives Matter protesters who engaged in acts of violence against federal property. He also stated that there is a strong case for many of the January 6 defendants to be pardoned, as they didn't engage in acts of violence or damage federal property. Cotton criticized the Biden administration for stretching the law to go after some of the people who were present near the Capitol that day. He called for the same standards to be used regardless of one's politics [cf557d0f].
In Maryland, Governor Wes Moore issued a mass pardon of 175,000 low-level marijuana convictions, the most sweeping state-level pardon in American history. The pardons are aimed at addressing social and economic injustices disproportionately impacting Black people. Black Marylanders were three times more likely to be detained over cannabis-related charges than white residents. The pardons extend to anyone with a misdemeanor conviction for possession of marijuana or paraphernalia. The action was cheered by criminal justice reform activists and will not result in anyone being released from jail [fa344f52].
In New York, U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) urged Governor Kathy Hochul to pardon Donald Trump following his conviction on 34 charges in his hush money trial. Phillips argued that Trump should be pardoned 'for the good of the country' despite calling him a 'serial liar, cheater, and philanderer.' However, Gov. Hochul has already stated that she won't consider the idea. Trump still faces three other criminal prosecutions and is set to be sentenced on July 11 [ebd677cf].
In other news, former President Donald Trump's criminal trial continues in a New York courtroom. The charges against Trump are related to hush money payments made to an adult-film actress. Trump's recent comments about not committing to accepting the results of the 2024 presidential election have drawn criticism from the Biden campaign. Trump is scheduled to return to the campaign trail with a rally planned in Wildwood, N.J. [fcfa837c].
During his visit to Wilmington, North Carolina, President Biden addressed supporters and discussed clean water projects. He condemned hate speech and violence against Jewish and Arab American students, emphasizing the importance of unity and inclusivity. Biden also highlighted the significance of Wilmington and New Hanover County in the upcoming election. While Trump narrowly won the state in 2016, Biden secured victory in the county in 2020. Both candidates used their respective campaign events to pitch their economic visions to voters. Biden highlighted the bipartisan infrastructure law, while Trump criticized Biden's economic policies. Moving forward, Biden's focus in the area will be on increasing registered Democratic voters or identifying Democratic-leaning Unaffiliated voters to secure a win in North Carolina in 2024.
Meanwhile, President Biden presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 distinguished Americans at a ceremony held at the White House. The recipients come from various fields, including politics, sports, entertainment, civil rights, LGBTQ+ advocacy, science, and religion. The medal was also awarded posthumously to three individuals. Among the recipients were Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Medgar Evers, a prominent civil rights activist, and Michelle Yeoh, a renowned actress. Biden acknowledged the role of James Clyburn in his 2020 presidential primary win and praised Pelosi as the greatest speaker of the House of Representatives. Clarence B. Jones, a lawyer who provided legal counsel to Martin Luther King Jr., was recognized for his activism during the Civil Rights Movement. Other recipients include former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, former Sen. Elizabeth Dole, climate activist Al Gore, and journalist Phil Donahue. The White House stated that the recipients have made exemplary contributions to the United States in various areas [02659ccf].