Biden Pardons Son, Sparking Fierce Political Backlash
In a move that has sent shockwaves through Washington, President Joe Biden has granted a sweeping pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, just days before he was due to be sentenced in two federal cases. The pardon, which covers any potential federal crimes Hunter may have committed between January 2014 and December 2024, has triggered a furious response from Republicans, who accuse the President of abuse of power and a blatant disregard for the rule of law.
The White House insists the pardon was necessary to protect Hunter from “raw politics” and what they perceive as a politically motivated prosecution. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended the President’s decision, stating, “He believes in the justice system, but he also believes that the raw politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice.” Jean-Pierre asserted that Hunter had been "singled out" because of his identity and that his father’s political opponents "would continue to go after his son."
The controversy stems from Hunter Biden’s legal entanglements that have dogged him for years. In June, he became the first child of a sitting US president to be convicted of a federal crime when a Delaware jury found him guilty of lying about his drug use on a form when purchasing a handgun. In September, he pleaded guilty to federal tax charges, including failure to file and pay his taxes, tax evasion, and filing a false return.
The pardon extends far beyond these specific charges, encompassing a period across which Hunter was embroiled in controversy surrounding his business dealings in Ukraine.
This move comes after months of denials from the White House that any pardon was being contemplated. As recently as last month, Jean-Pierre explicitly stated that President Biden would not pardon his son.
The President’s decision has drawn sharp condemnation from Republicans.
President-elect Donald Trump labeled it "an abuse and miscarriage of justice." House Speaker Mike Johnson declared that “trust in our justice system has almost been irreparably damaged by the Bidens and abuse of it." House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer asserted that Biden "lied from start to finish about his family’s corrupt influence peddling activities.”
While the reaction from Democrats has been more muted, some have expressed concern. Colorado Senator Michael Bennet weighed in on X, formerly Twitter, stating: “President Biden’s decision put personal interest ahead of duty and further erodes Americans’ faith that the justice system is fair and equal for all."
Legal experts have also weighed in, echoing the sentiment that the timing and scope of the pardon raise serious questions. Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor, told the BBC, "President Biden was disingenuous this entire time when he said that he would not pardon his son. A pardon was the plan from the beginning, but President Biden misled the American people because he, then Kamala Harris, were in the middle of an election.”
Rahmani emphasized the President’s absolute power to grant pardons, stating, “There is nothing Donald Trump or the Republicans can do to stop it.”
The fallout from this controversial decision is sure to reverberate for months to come, casting a long shadow over the Biden presidency and fueling already heated partisan divisions in the country.
First Lady Jill Biden Issues Statement in Support
From the White House, First Lady Jill Biden offered her full Surname support for the President’s actions, saying "Of course I support the pardon of my son.”
