Nine Chicago-area mayors have petitioned President Joe Biden to pardon former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.
On Friday, September 6, 2024, the mayors sent a letter to President Biden seeking a pardon for Jackson Jr., the son of the renowned civil rights leader recently honored at the Democratic National Convention.
Jackson Jr. was convicted over a decade ago for conspiring to misuse campaign funds for personal expenses. In 2013, he pleaded guilty to conspiring with his then-wife, Sandi Jackson, to illegally use $750,000 in campaign funds. He was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, serving about half before being released to a halfway house in March 2015 to complete his sentence.
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“We worked with him on a regular basis. His concern and care for his constituents’ needs were always present,” wrote the mayors from Chicago’s southern suburbs. “Like you, we also make decisions that affect people’s daily lives. Often, we must remember not to judge a man solely by his worst day. We believe Congressman Jackson has better days ahead.”
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The mayors’ request comes a day after Biden’s son, Robert Hunter Biden, pleaded guilty to federal tax charges. Earlier this year, Hunter Biden was also convicted on three counts related to his illegal purchase of a handgun. Despite this, President Biden has not indicated any intention to pardon his son, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday.
So far, the White House has not commented on the mayors’ request to pardon Jackson Jr. Several members of Congress, including Jackson Jr.’s successor, Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), and his father have also urged the president to grant the pardon.
In 2022 and 2023, President Joe Biden issued blanket pardons for certain marijuana offenses, affecting thousands of people convicted on drug-related charges. Since then, he has not issued further pardons, exercising caution in using this constitutional power. According to the Justice Department, Biden has pardoned 25 people since taking office in January 2021. In contrast, Donald Trump pardoned more than 140 people, including former members of Congress, political allies, and Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law.
It is common for presidents to issue a flurry of pardons toward the end of their term, as Trump did after his November 2020 election defeat.
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