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surprise , December 19, 2024 , prlog – The Weldon Project and the Academy for Justice (A4J) celebrate its launch weldon angelos presidential pardon removal act (H.R. 10248), a bipartisan effort aimed at closing the gap between presidential pardons and true second chances. The bill is introduced specifically in light of recent clemency developments—including both the current administration and the incoming administration—that have raised long-standing concerns about the limits of presidential pardons and the role of congressional legislation. has generated public interest.
Introduced by Congressman Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), this bill allows individuals who have received a full presidential pardon to apply to have their criminal records expunged related to the pardoned crimes. Weldon Angelos, who was sentenced to 55 years in federal prison for a first-time, non-violent marijuana offense and was later pardoned by President Trump, emphasized the life-changing impact of this bill:
“Having overcome the hurdles that remain even after a full presidential pardon, this bill is nothing short of transformative. Pardons should truly give second chances. This legislation delivers on that promise by establishing a much-needed removal process, Only Congress has the power to create. I am deeply grateful to Congressman Armstrong for his leadership and humbled that such an impactful reform is named after me.”
A4J’s founder, Professor Eric Luna of Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, highlighted the historic significance of the bill:
“This legislation is unprecedented. If enacted, it would be the first general expungement statute in federal history, addressing a centuries-old legal gap. Although pardons vacate legal penalties, they do not expunge the conviction record. , which can create barriers to access to employment, education, and housing. Congressman Armstrong’s bill closes that gap, providing a true second chance to those who qualify.”
broad bipartisan support
weldon angelos presidential pardon removal act Has received bipartisan support from policymakers and support from major organizations, including:
- original cosponsor: Representatives David Trone (D-MD), Laurel Lee (R-FL), Barry Moore (R-AL), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), and Don Bacon (R-NE).
- supporting organization:Weldon Project, Taking Action for Good (TAG), Heritage Action, CPAC Foundation, Americans for Prosperity (AFP), Dream.org, Due Process Institute (DPI), Justice Action Network (JAN), Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP), National Cannabis Roundtable (NCR), Faith and Freedom Coalition, Right on Crime, Prison Fellowship, R Street Institute, NACDL, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), CAN-DO Amnesty, and FWD.us.
what the experts are saying
In a letter to House Judiciary Committee leadership, Right on Crime urges representatives to prioritize bipartisanship Weldon Angelos Presidential Pardon Removal Act.
Brett Tolman, former U.S. Attorney and executive director of Right on Crime, said, “It is a rare few who are granted a full pardon by the American President, yet recipients are left carrying the burden of a criminal conviction for the rest of their lives.” “Every American deserves the chance to put their worst mistakes behind them and become contributing citizens in their communities.”
Greg Glode of Americans for Prosperity outlined the important need filled by the law:
“Amnesty should pave the way for a second chance, but without amnesty, many people still face insurmountable obstacles. This bipartisan bill ensures that amnesty actually erases the past, which is life-threatening.” Provides a reasonable opportunity for reconstruction.”
Lieutenant Dianne Goldstein (Ret.), Executive Director of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership, praised the bill for addressing the vital interests at stake:
“Requiring presidential pardon recipients to face the concurrent consequences of the pardoned conviction is counterproductive. The Weldon Angelos Presidential Pardon Expungement Act would appropriately protect security and justice by creating a process for pardon recipients to officially clear their names. “, allowing them to take full advantage of what they have been given a second chance.”
Geoffrey Lawrence Reason Called for an end to the harmful legacy of the war on drugs:
“This legislation is an important step toward restoring rights and addressing decades of harm caused by unjust drug policies. It is time to stop targeting peaceful civilians and put reasonable limits on government overreach.” be established from.”
Kat Murthy of Students for Sensible Drug Policy emphasized the humanitarian impact:
“This bill is a ray of hope for those whose lives have been derailed by unjust convictions. Sentencing helps heal families and communities devastated by the war on drugs.”
About the Weldon Angelos Presidential Pardon Expungement Act
This law addresses an important distinction between pardon and expungement. While a pardon forgives a crime, only expungement completely erases the record, removing the stigma of the conviction.
- Removal for previous recipients: People who receive a full presidential pardon can petition federal courts to have their sentences commuted, with the government allowed to challenge cases based on public safety or justice concerns.
- Streamlined process for pardon in future: Prospective pardon recipients will benefit from a simplified petition process to clear their records.
- Boycott of nepotistic amnesty:The bill ensures impartiality except for pardon granted to family members of the sitting President.
Background on Weldon Angelos and Eric Luna
Weldon Angelos, for whom the bill is named, was sentenced to 55 years in federal prison for a non-violent marijuana conviction at the age of 24. His conviction was widely criticized as excessive, becoming a rallying point for justice reform. Since his release and full pardon, Angelos has supported clemency and second chances through initiatives such as The Weldon Project and the First Step Act, as well as the release of people still incarcerated for marijuana and other non-violent crimes. Have successfully advocated.
Eric LunaAmelia D. Lewis, professor of constitutional and criminal law at Arizona State University, is the founder of the Academy for Justice (A4J), a criminal justice reform program at ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. A former prosecutor and two-time Fulbright Award winner, Luna has played a significant role in criminal justice policy, including challenging Angelos’s original conviction and shaping clemency initiatives.
Building on the legacy of advocacy
The law is based on years of reform work by Angelos and Luna:
- clemency advocacy: He collaborated with cultural figures such as Drake, Killer Mike, Deion Sanders, Kevin Garnett, Mike Tyson, Bella Thorne, rapper Juice and dozens of other artists, athletes, public officials, entrepreneurs, policy experts, reform advocates and other professionals. Calling on the President to prioritize pardons for marijuana offenders.
- policy reform: Angelos and Luna co-authored various white papers, including clemency criteria developed with former Deputy U.S. Attorney General James M. Cole (author of the nicknamed “Cole Memo”) and a model influencing the development of federal initiatives including marijuana Law is involved. Misdemeanor Expungement Act (introduced as HR 8557 in 2022 and HR 8917 in 2024) and now the Weldon Angelos Presidential Pardon Expungement Act (HR 10248).
- public participation:He helped organize many high-profile events (For example:, 50 years of injustice), testified before government bodies (For example:Testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on “Decriminalizing Cannabis at the Federal Level”, wrote an op-ed calling for action and correcting the record, and led a bipartisan coalition to address the harms of outdated drug laws. Organized.
- innovation platform: Angelos and Luna organized and moderated “Cannabis, Criminal Justice, and Clemency,” a novel symposium held at the U.S. Capitol Complex to consider the issues raised by the current reconsideration of federal marijuana prohibition. Organized by members of Congress, the event was innovative in its collaboration across academia, policy analysis, business, law, and enforcement. The symposium included current and former federal officials (For example:U.S. Pardon Attorney Elizabeth Oyer and former HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius), White House and Justice Department representatives, and leading criminal justice scholars and policy experts.
- helping real people: Angelos and Luna continue to advocate for the release of individuals whose imprisonment represents ongoing injustice and are seeking presidential pardons, including Edwin Rubis, Jerry Heyman, Parker Coleman, Danny Trevino and others. Includes people who are incarcerated for non-violent marijuana offenses. “Enough is enough,” Angelos and Luna declared publicly for several years. “No one should be locked up in federal prison for marijuana possession. No one should continue to receive a red letter federal sentence for marijuana offenses.”
Current campaign: Biden’s last chance
As President Biden’s term comes to an end, The Weldon Project, A4J, and partners are leading the way last chance Campaign for clemency for marijuana offenders.
- Forgive the people, not Turkey (November): Urging the President to prioritize pardons over holiday traditions.
- 25 days of amnesty (December): a daily profile of jailed individuals awaiting clemency to maintain public pressure.
In the words of Angelos:
“Momentum for marijuana reform is growing, but true justice can only be achieved by freeing people in prison for nonviolent crimes. This is President Biden’s last chance to follow through on his promises.”
For more information about the clemency campaign, visit canabesclemencynow.org and follow @reeform_now and @academy4justice on social media.
The views expressed here are personal and do not represent the position of Arizona State University or the Arizona Board of Regents
About the Weldon Project and the Justice Academy
The Weldon Project advocates for clemency and systemic reform for individuals incarcerated for non-violent marijuana offenses. Through wide-ranging partnerships, it launched the mission [Green] The initiative to raise the level of awareness, social justice and social equality, as part of a nationwide campaign aimed at providing relief to those who have been negatively affected by prohibition.
For more information see https://www.theweldonproject.org/
Justice Academy (A4J)Based at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, combines scholarly research and real-world progress. A4J seeks to make academic work accessible and useful to policymakers, stakeholders, the media, and the public, helping to translate scholarly analysis and novel solutions into actionable criminal justice reform.
For more information see https://academyforjustice.asu.edu/
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