Former President Joe Biden is facing fresh criticism over a recent wave of clemency grants after several recipients were arrested again within months of having their sentences reduced. Among them are Khyre Holbert and Willie Frank Peterson, who now face new drug and firearm-related charges. Prosecutors say Holbert—who had served seven years of a 20-year term—was taken into custody following a shooting in Omaha in October.
Law enforcement groups, including the Omaha Police Officers Association, argue that Holbert’s early release put the public in danger. The association said freeing people convicted of serious crimes before they demonstrate rehabilitation “puts our communities, our families, our kids, and our police officers at risk.” They added that they were relieved officers responded quickly to Holbert’s arrest, saying their members arrived “before Holbert could get away or hurt anyone else.”
Critics outside law enforcement have echoed those concerns. Michael Rushford, president of the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, described the clemency push as overly broad and poorly vetted. He argued that many federal inmates who benefited had lengthy criminal records and that large-scale commutations increased the chances of repeat offenses. In his view, clemency should be reserved for clear cases of injustice rather than issued in bulk.
Rushford also questioned how the decisions were made, suggesting too much authority may have been delegated. “It was never intended that a president delegate that authority,” he said, adding that many commutations appeared to be granted without the president’s direct involvement. He argued it was hard to justify approvals for dozens of convicted drug dealers and even people convicted of violent crimes. He further warned that releasing hardened offenders often leads to predictable outcomes, saying the likelihood of reoffending is “very high.”
Holbert is currently charged with first-degree assault, felony weapon use, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Attorney General Pam Bondi sharply condemned the late-term commutations, calling them a betrayal of victims’ families and a failure of accountability. She said the Holbert case underscores her view that crime should be met with firm consequences rather than leniency.
