FRANKFORT, Ky. — Some of former President Joe Biden’s pardons in his last hours of office are being criticized by Republicans.


What You Need To Know

  • State Senator Chris McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, reintroduced a measure to limit gubernatorial pardons 

  • If passed, SB 126 would prohibit pardons 30 days before a gubernatorial election through inauguration  

  • McDaniel has championed the change after controversial pardons from former Governor Matt Bevin, R, Kentucky, in 2019 

  • The constitutionality amendment requires three fifths majority in the House and Senate, it ultimately would have to be ratified by voters

During his last moments in office, Biden made several pardons. Those include preemptive pardons for members of the Jan. 6 committee, Dr. Anthony Fauci and Biden’s family. Biden also issued a full pardon to former Kentucky Democratic Party Leader Jerry Lundergan; convicted of illegal campaign contributions in 2014.

State Senator Chris McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, said he wants to prevent this from happening at a state level.

“What we saw with President Biden in the waning hours of and minutes of his administration is largely what we’re trying to address on the state level,” McDaniel said.

McDaniel has reintroduced a constitutional amendment limiting the governor’s ability to pardon. This year it’s known as Senate Bill 126. There would be no pardons 30 days before an election through the swearing in.

“From 30 days prior to the end of the term and then from the end of a term until the swearing in of a new governor, the power to pardon will be taken away,” McDaniel said.

McDaniel believes taking away the governor’s ability to pardon during those two months holds them or their party accountable to the voters. It’s been an issue McDaniel has championed following controversial pardons by former Republican Gov. Matt Bevin.

“He pardoned murderers, he pardoned rapists, he pardoned child rapists, people convicted of sex trafficking and all kinds of other things,” McDaniel said.

Among Bevin’s questionable pardon’s was Patrick Baker, a man convicted for the 2014 killing of Donald Mills. Mills’ sister told Spectrum News in 2021 she was outraged by former Gov. Bevin’s decision.

A federal grand jury indicted Patrick Baker on a federal murder charge on June 1, 2021 after he had been pardoned by former Gov. Matt Bevin. (Laurel County Correctional Center)

“I was highly pissed off. I’m not going to lie to you. I was highly upset,” said Melinda Mills.

Baker was eventually re-charged federally and is serving a life sentence.

Bevin also commuted the death sentence of murderer and rapist Gregory Wilson. Wilson raped then killed Debbie Pooley in Covington in 1987. Wilson became eligible for parole last year under Bevin’s commutation.

Gregory Wilson has served 36 years in prison for murdering and raping Debbie Pooley. Former Gov. Matt Bevin, R-Ky., commuted Wilson's original death sentence to life in prison with the chance at parole. (Kentucky Department of Corrections)

Pooley’s niece, Ami, testified at the parole hearing Spectrum News covered last January. She pleaded Wilson remain locked up.

“Let this be the final chapter in a story marred by pain and suffering,” Ami said.

Wilson was denied parole and will serve the rest of his life behind bars.

McDaniel believes limiting the pardon powers restores public trust in the gubernatorial pardon process.

“A pardon allows one person for no reason whatsoever other than their own discretion or intuition to circumvent an entire system of justice,” McDaniel said.

Since it’s a constitutional amendment, SB 126 requires three fifth majority in the House and Senate to pass.

If passed, the measure would appear on voter’s ballots in 2026.