NASHVILLE, Tenn. — On Friday, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, declared his decision to grant pardons to 43 individuals who have fully completed their sentences, emphasizing that his approach is distinctly different from the recent clemency measures undertaken by President Joe Biden.
This latest round of clemency marks a significant increase for Lee, as it nearly doubles his previous highest annual total of pardons. In his announcement, Lee made it clear that he opted not to issue any commutations—reducing the length of sentences—in his annual pre-Christmas review of clemency actions. He highlighted the fact that those who received pardons in Tennessee had already served their sentences, reintegrated into society, and received endorsements from the state Board of Parole. Since he took office in 2019, Lee has granted only seven commutations.
Last week, President Biden made headlines by commuting the sentences of approximately 1,500 individuals who had been released from prison and placed under home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also granted pardons to 39 Americans who were convicted of nonviolent offenses, making it the largest single-day clemency action in modern history. However, some of these decisions faced criticism from local communities. Biden’s clemency actions came on the heels of a controversial pardon for his son Hunter, who has pleaded guilty to federal felony charges related to gun possession and taxes.
“These are very different individuals than many of the individuals whose sentences were commuted in the previous federal clemency grant,” Lee commented to the media. In Tennessee, a pardon signifies forgiveness for individuals who have finished serving their sentences, while a commutation effectively reduces a sentence but maintains the conviction. During his tenure, Lee has granted only one exoneration, which indicates that the applicant was wrongfully convicted. Other state governors are also considering clemency measures during this holiday period.
Lee’s ally, President-elect Donald Trump, has faced scrutiny over his clemency practices as well, having previously assisted notable figures during his first term and signaling intentions to begin his second term with pardons for individuals tied to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots.
According to Lee’s office, none of the individuals he pardoned this Friday have faced an active criminal sentence for at least five years, which includes probation or parole. “They’ve been out, but they’ve also shown a compelling reason and interest for getting a pardon and have demonstrated exemplary citizenship,” said Lee.
The governor highlighted specific cases, including that of Lanesha Faye Brown, who he stated was convicted of attempted second-degree murder at the age of 13 in 1998 after enduring bullying at school. In a response to being attacked, she used a small knife during an art class project. Today, Brown has been married for 15 years, attained an associate’s degree, and is employed at a hotel in Nashville. Although she previously lost a job due to a background check, her colleagues and manager campaigned for her reinstatement.
The governor’s clemency announcements follow an election cycle where national Republicans emphasized tough-on-crime rhetoric, a key focus for Tennessee’s Legislature in recent years. Nevertheless, Lee, who won his governorship in 2018 with a platform inclusive of criminal justice reform, has maintained that his clemency decisions are separate from reforms in the justice system.
Last year, Lee approved 22 pardons and commuted a single sentence, while in 2022, he granted 13 pardons along with three commutations. In 2021, he issued 13 pardons, signed off on three more commutations, and exonerated one person. His predecessor, former Governor Bill Haslam, authorized nine commutations, 35 pardons, and one exoneration during his tenure of eight years in office.