President Hunter Biden, who was just days away from receiving sentences on his cases. In a stunning about-face, the POTUS, who previously vowed not to use his executive authority to intervene in his son’s legal battles, pulled the ultimate political reverse card.
Aside from being free from the shadow of any legal consequences, thanks to his dad.
“I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice — and once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further. I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision,” Biden said in a statement issued by the White House on Sunday, Dec. 1.
For critics, this pardon smells like the swampiest of political plays. Republicans are already decrying it as proof that the justice system bends for the powerful and their kin. Steven Cheung, a spokesman for President-elect Donald Trump, wasted no time painting the picture of a justice system “weaponized” against their side.
“The failed witch hunts against President Trump have proven that the Democrat-controlled DOJ and other radical prosecutors are guilty of weaponizing the justice system,” Cheung said in a statement to Fox News.
In recent months, Joe repeatedly said he would not pardon his 54-year-old son, but given his age and waning political career, it did not seem like this reversal was ever out of the equation. At 82, the older Biden might have calculated that staging a move this bold would have no impact on his political legacy. His term is already ending, and a reelection even in the future is very unlikely. Thus, he has nothing to lose at this point.
It’s also worth noting that Joe did not just pardon the younger Biden as president; he pulled this reversal as a father, as evidenced by his imioned remarks against his political opponents in his statement. “In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me – and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough,” he said as if this issue was less about justice and more about defending a family member under siege.
In a separate statement obtained by NBC News, Hunter addressed what would be one of his father’s final moves as POTUS, saying he is taking responsibility for his mistakes “during the darkest days of my addiction,” which he claims was exploited to humiliate and shame the entire Biden family. He also vowed to rebuild his life now that he is free of all criminal charges.
“In recovery, we can be given the opportunity to make amends where possible and rebuild our lives if we never take for granted the mercy that we have been afforded. I will never take the clemency I have been given today for granted and will devote the life I have rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering,” the younger Biden said.
This seemingly unprecedented clemency is expected to have ripple effects in the country’s political landscape. Though it may be viewed simply as an act of love between a father and son, we fear no emotional justification would be enough to quell public outrage. Besides, if this were any other citizen, would a similar outcome be granted to them given the circumstances?
Published: Dec 2, 2024 05:02 am