Biden’s end-of-year pardons include domestic abuse survivor who killed her husband, drug convictions

President Joe Biden issued end-of-year pardons to six convicts Friday, including one who’d been convicted of second-degree murder.

“Today, President Biden is granting six full pardons for individuals who have served their sentences and have demonstrated a commitment to improving their communities and the lives of those around them,” a White House official said in a statement.

“These include individuals who honorably served in the US military, volunteer in their communities, and survived domestic abuse. President Biden believes America is a nation of second chances, and that offering meaningful opportunities for redemption and rehabilitation empowers those who have been incarcerated to become productive, law-abiding members of society.”

The Ohio convict who survived domestic abuse, 80-year-old Beverly Ann Ibn-Tamas, is in fact the one who was convicted of second-degree murder for killing her husband.

“Ms. Ibn-Tamas, 33 at the time of the incident, was pregnant and testified that before and during her pregnancy, her husband beat her, verbally abused her, and threatened her. According to her testimony, her husband had physically assaulted her and threatened her in the moments before she shot him,” according to a White House fact sheet.

“During her trial, the court refused to allow expert testimony regarding battered woman syndrome, a psychological condition and pattern of behavior that develops in victims of domestic violence. Ms. Ibn-Tamas was ultimately sentenced to a term of one to five years’ incarceration, with credit for time served,” the fact sheet continues.

The rest of the convicts were convicted for drug/alcohol-related crimes.

Take 66-year-old Arizona man Gary Parks Davis. He pleaded guilty “to use of a communication facility (a telephone) to facilitate an unlawful cocaine transaction at age 22.”

But after serving his justified sentence, he completely turned his life around.

“Mr. Davis earned a bachelor’s degree and worked steadily, including owning his own landscaping business and managing construction projects. He has also been engaged with his community over the past decades, serving as the president and treasurer for the local high school’s booster club, even after his children graduated, and performing civic works and fundraising as a member of the local rotary club and chamber of commerce,” according to the White House fact sheet.

Then there’s California man Edward Lincoln De Coito III, 50. At the age of 23, he pleaded guilty to participating in a marijuana trafficking conspiracy. This conviction came after years of him serving in the military.

“Prior to his offense, he honorably served in the U.S. Army and the Army Reserves. In the course of his service, he received numerous awards, including the Southwest Asia Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal,” according to the fact sheet.

Next is fellow California man Vincente Ray Flores, 37, who at the age of 19 “consumed ecstasy and alcohol while serving in the military” and “later pleaded guilty at a special court-martial.”

“In exchange for his plea, the convening authority directed his participation in the Air Force Return to Duty Program, which is a six-month rehabilitation program that provides selected enlisted offenders with a chance to return to duty after therapy and education,” the fact sheet notes.

Since completing the program, he’s gone on to be awarded the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Meritorious Unit Award.

“His conduct and efficiency ratings have been outstanding. Further, Mr. Flores serves on the Honor Guard, has helped train others for Honor Guard ceremonies, and has volunteered for a number of causes through his military units. These include Habitat for Humanity, a cancer research fundraiser, and events for military members returning from deployment,” the fact sheet reads.

Note that one person who wasn’t pardoned was Leonard Peltier, a militant Native American activist who killed two FBI agents in 1975. Some leftists genuinely believe he deserves to be pardoned as well on the basis that he didn’t commit the killings:

The remaining two pardoned convicts are South Carolina man Charlie Byrnes Jackson, 77, and Florida man John Dix Nock III, 72.

Jackson “pleaded guilty to one count of possession and sale of distilled spirits without tax stamps” decades ago.

Nock III meanwhile “pleaded guilty to one count of renting and making for use, as an owner, a place for the purpose of manufacturing marijuana plants.”

Vivek Saxena

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