As previously reported, President Joe Biden made the bold decision to pardon his son Hunter on Sunday, who had been found guilty in June of illegally owning a gun in 2018 and pleaded guilty in September in a tax case. This marked a significant shift for the president, who had repeatedly stated that he would not use his executive authority to pardon his son or commute his sentence.
However, Biden clarified his reasoning in a statement, saying, “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.”
While some online users express their understanding of Biden’s actions—believing that most parents would act similarly—there has been significant backlash as well. Nonetheless, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) is giving the President credit while criticizing Republicans for their hypocrisy. “Because at the end of the day, we know that we have a 34-count convicted felon that is about to walk into the White House,” Crockett stated during an appearance on MSNBC, referring to Donald Trump.
She further remarked that “anyone who wants to clutch their pearls” over the president’s decision to pardon his son should “take a look in the mirror because we also know that when it comes to this Cabinet, this Cabinet has more people accused of sexual assault than any incoming Cabinet probably ever in the history of America.”
Crockett concluded by saying, “So we are living in unprecedented times and we know that this was completely political, as someone who serves on the [House] oversight committee, this was gamesmanship the entire time.”
Jasmine Crockett’s response to the Hunter Biden pardon is epic and a must-watch. pic.twitter.com/Mfa67VOTX7
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) December 2, 2024
RELATED:Hunter Biden Pleads Not Guilty To Federal Gun Charges
Of course, the vocal president-elect Donald Trump reacted to this news. He said, “Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years?” Trump wrote. “Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!”
Hunter Biden has since released a statement himself. It reads:
“I have admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction – mistakes that have been exploited to publicly humiliate and shame me and my family for political sport. Despite all of this, I have maintained my sobriety for more than five years because of my deep faith and the unwavering love and support of my family and friends. In the throes of addiction, I squandered many opportunities and advantages. 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.”
Hunter Biden concluded, “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.”
