This Christmas, all I want is a pardon — but my last name isn’t Biden.
My name is not known to millions. I’m just an ordinary person with an extraordinary label: “felon.” Years ago, I was convicted of a felony in Virginia for taking my daughter across state lines. We weren’t divorced yet, and she wasn’t harmed in any way. There was no malice or intent to break the law — only a misunderstanding in a painful time of family conflict. Yet in Virginia, this act became a felony, one that now overshadows my life.
I’ve built a successful career and have no prior record, but the weight of that conviction lingers. Job opportunities I’m qualified for remain out of reach because of background checks. Social stigma follows me in ways big and small. And yet, I know I am not alone. Millions of Americans with non-violent records struggle under similar burdens, long after they have served their sentences or paid their fines. For many of us, our lives are defined not by who we are now, but by the worst moment of our past.
This is why President Biden should have a Christmas Pardon, which could be a gift of immeasurable value — not just to me, but to our nation. By granting clemency to non-violent offenders at the federal level, the president could give countless people a chance to leave the stigma of their past behind and fully rejoin society.
Forgiveness and redemption are the principles upon which our justice system should be built. They are also values that should define us as a society. But pardoning non-violent offenders is practical as well. The United States spends more than $80 billion annually on incarceration, a significant portion of which is devoted to non-violent offenders. Granting clemency to these individuals would save taxpayers billions.
For people like me, clemency doesn’t erase accountability. I’ve faced the consequences of my actions and learned from them. But clemency would mean a second chance — to work without stigma, to contribute fully to my community, to provide a better life for my family. It would mean that my life is no longer defined by a legal misstep but by my potential and the person I have become.
Biden’s Christmas Pardon could be a profound act of grace. Including former President Trump — a polarizing figure — would show that forgiveness can transcend politics. These actions would set a precedent for governors to follow, urging them to extend mercy to those burdened by non-violent state convictions.
I’m not asking for special treatment or favors. I’m asking for the same chance that everyone deserves: the opportunity to move forward, to shed the label of “felon” and live as a full and contributing member of society. As we celebrate this season of renewal, I hope our leaders remember the words of the Gospel: “Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37).
All I want for Christmas is a pardon. Not just for me, but for the millions of Americans who have served their time, learned their lessons, and are ready to turn the page. It’s time for forgiveness to be a part of justice. It’s time for a Christmas of second chances.
Kate Tobin holds a law degree from Washington and Lee law and now works to help companies all over the world raise equity and grow.
