For the first time in his presidency, Joe Biden is using his clemency powers in honor of Second Chance Month. On Tuesday, Biden announced he’s granting clemency to 75 people and pardoning three others. The move is part of the Biden’s administration new efforts to “support those re-entering society after incarceration.”
Among those receiving pardons is 87-year-old Abraham W. Bolden. He was the first Black Secret Service agent and served on President John F. Kennedy’s detail. In 1964, Bolden faced federal bribery charges following accusations that he tried selling a copy of a Secret Service file. Per the Associated Press, Bolden’s first trial ended in a hung jury. After he was convicted with a second trial, key witnesses admitted they had lied at the prosecutor’s request. Since then, Bolden has maintained his innocence. Biden’s move Tuesday doesn’t confirm that innocence, but it does give a sense of restitution for Bolden.
