[President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, has left some Democrats fuming over his repeated denials that he would ever take that step. The pardon came after Hunter was convicted of illegally buying and possessing a gun as a drug user and pleaded guilty to nine tax offenses, and it has led to criticism from lawmakers in Biden’s own party.
Sources close to the president said that Hunter’s legal team had long believed a pardon was possible, despite White House denials. Biden spent time with his family, including Hunter, over the Thanksgiving holiday and reached a decision on the pardon over the weekend.
Lawmakers such as Rep. Greg Landsman and Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet have criticized the decision, saying it erodes trust in the justice system. Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton said, “This wasn’t a politically-motivated prosecution. Hunter committed felonies, and was convicted by a jury of his peers.”
Former officials who worked for Biden have expressed surprise at the move, with one saying they never believed the president’s repeated denials that he would not pardon his son. Another said it would have been less controversial had Biden been less adamant in his denials.
In a press briefing, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that Trump’s victory in last month’s election had been a factor in the decision, saying, “It is a no — I can answer that, it’s a no.” However, she then insisted she was not interested in discussing hypotheticals.
Biden’s decision is not without precedent, with presidents from both parties having used their pardon power in ways that have raised eyebrows. Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, his daughter’s father-in-law, and President Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother Roger.
Source link
