CNN host Jake Tapper criticized President Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden, saying it is an indictment of his administration. Tapper argued that the president and his surrogates had denied that a pardon was being considered, and that this deception undermines the administration’s credibility.
Tapper highlighted that in June, when Hunter Biden was found guilty on three felony gun charges, President Biden was still running for re-election and that Democrats and progressives saw this as an opportunity to contrast the current and former president. He also pointed out that the president’s administration and allies, including White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, had repeatedly denied plans to pardon Hunter Biden.
Tapper suggested that the president’s decision to pardon his son was a strategic move to benefit his administration and that it undermines the rule of law. He quoted Biden’s grievances with Hunter’s treatment by the legal system and noted that special counsel David Weiss has since called out the president, saying that there was no evidence of vindictive or selective prosecution in the case.
Tapper also criticized MSNBC legal analyst Andrew Weissman, who had previously praised Biden for not pardoning his son. Tapper noted that Weissman’s praise was ironic given the president’s subsequent decision to pardon Hunter Biden.