Joe Biden has said multiple times that he wouldn’t give a presidential pardon to his son for the “gun and tax” cases. However, on Sunday morning, after Thanksgiving Day when most Americans were focused elsewhere, he announced that he had changed his mind.
In a statement explaining his decision, Biden wrote that Hunter had faced many attempts to “break him.” Despite staying calm for five and a half years, Hunter was unfairly targeted and put through a flawed legal process.
Biden said, “In trying to break Hunter, they tried to break me. And there’s no reason to believe that this will stop here. Enough is enough.”
This explanation from President Biden sounds very similar to former President Trump’s criticism of the American justice system in recent years.
Before leaving the White House in 2021, Trump pardoned several close allies and associates who were facing criminal investigations. He ignored the usual White House process for granting pardons.
Although Trump’s actions faced criticism, they didn’t cost him politically. Similarly, Biden may face criticism for breaking his promise and using his presidential powers to pardon his son.
Jared Polis, the Democratic governor of Colorado, said he was disappointed by Biden’s decision, adding that it would “damage Biden’s credibility.”
Since Biden’s political career is already nearing its end, he likely won’t face significant consequences for this decision. Public attention will soon shift to the newly elected President Trump.
Biden’s move has permanently changed the rules and principles of presidential pardons. Now, anyone might expect such pardons. Trump’s team quickly responded, saying the new president will fix the flaws in the American justice system.
It’s worth noting that when Trump returns to the White House, he is expected to pardon many of his supporters and allies who faced legal trouble during Biden’s presidency. This could include those convicted for their involvement in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
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