President Biden pardons his son Hunter Biden
President Biden pardons his son Hunter Biden
The decision, which was first reported by NBC News, is a reversal for the president, who repeatedly said he would not use his authority to pardon his son or commute his sentence.
Summary
President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden, reversing his prior stance against using executive clemency.
The pardon covers Hunter’s federal gun conviction and tax evasion guilty plea, sparking political controversy.
Biden cited political attacks and a “miscarriage of justice” as reasons for his decision, emphasizing his son’s recovery from addiction and the targeting of his family.
Critics argue the move undermines the judicial process, while supporters view it as within Biden’s constitutional powers.
This decision shields Hunter from potential prison time as Biden nears the end of his presidency.
I'm not happy about this. Not one bit. Just like how I wouldn't have been happy to hear about Trump pardoning one of his own kids for breaking the law. As a matter of fact, I'm furious reading some of the comments in this thread.
It shocks me to see people defending this. We fought against the Republicans to prevent misuse of executive powers exactly like this. How the fuck can you sit there and rationalize this while saying it's wrong for Trump to pardon the Jan 6th insurrectionists? or himself for that matter?
This is a black stain on Biden's presidential legacy. It's shit like this that puts wind in the sails of all the crazy Republican conspiracy theorists out there. Now, every single motherfucker who ranted and raved about the "Biden Crime Family" since 2020 was just proven right, just like how all the people who said that Trump's convictions were politically motivated were proven right when Jack Smith dropped the charges. It makes us look like fucking morons and hypocrites.
No, before anyone says it, it is not smart to stoop to their level when basically the only messaging we sent out during the entire 2024 campaign was that we were the morally superior choice. That someone who doesn't respect the rule of law has no business being president. Now, we don't even have that to lean on.
For those of you who want to act like this is no big deal, he didn't do anything too bad, it's a non-issue please watch Nate the Lawyer's video on it.
Just like Harris going to Hawaii immediately after her loss, this sends a clear message.
"I don't give a fuck. This was always about personal power and wealth."
Just incase anyone thought the DNC would actually use their defeat as a reason to soul search about how their neoliberal policies no longer serve the people and that's why people aren't coming out to vote.
Who actually cares apart from phony politicians? This dude didn't do anything that's actually a real "crime". Ofc any reasonable parent would do the same. Yes, the injustice system is completely oppressive and violent but that doesn't mean we should selectively celebrate it. There are farrrrr bigger problems (eg. genocide).
A pretty mundane act of fatherhood. If you had the power to prevent your kid from going to jail for something that was done a 5 years ago most people would do it. It wasn't a violent crime that he is being pardoned from so its not that much different than all the pardons Trump did in his first term for all the fraud convictions.
Fuck it, I'd do the same. Potentially 25 years in prison for non-violent crimes is ridiculous. Might as well use the power to prevent it while you still have it.
It's not a great look...but let's be frank. Biden was pushed out of a race he wanted, during a presidency that wasn't all that bad considering what came before. The Dems that wanted him out are now all either infighting, or saying everything is fine and they'll definitely win in four years. Biden's in the last weeks of his job, and when he's lost so much already he probably just wants to ensure his family are safe.
After decades of public service, and being committed to handing power over to someone that's demonized what's left of his family, I'm all for Biden using his last week or two to protect his family and enjoy retirement.
Thank fuck the guy you've all been defending did a selfish act just for himself and his family before ditching us all to die.
Vote with a brick next time.
Good old Lemmy, defending its owners. Wage slaves in spirit lmao
People who were already sure Joe was going to pardon his oddly-named son: everyone.
Republicans overjoyed this outgoing president is now "just like" the worst human ever to run for office: all of them. "Whataboutism" is an alien term.
Political prisoners still incarcerated left to pardon: none.
Let the guy gather his family so he can travel far away from the despot felon and be safe in retirement. Don't envy that he can and we can't.
I'm not a fan of the nepotism and I don't plan on defending it. Biden claims he needs to do this to keep his family safe from an unfair system. If he's going to do stuff like this and acknowledge our institutions are flawed how about do stuff for the American people, Ukraine, or anyone without the last name Biden. The peaceful transfer of power to fascism, but his family got theirs leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
A lot of people here missing the point. We don't care about this because Hunter was the target of a witch hunt. The actual "crimes" weren't impactful at all. The Republicans literally spent 8 years dragging him through the mud, digging for anything that he could be charged with, just because who his dad is. And Hunter didn't even touch politics in the slightest.
The gun charge is the moral equivalent of crucifying someone for having pirated music on their hard drive. It was a nothing crime, never enforced, and the only reason it was in this case was because they happened to find something they could latch onto.
I don't know anything about the tax evasion conviction. If it was serious, then sure, fuck him. But I'd want them going after every politician AND their family with equal vigor. But guess what? They aren't.
That's why most of us don't really care. The man is not important. He holds no position of power, nor has he expressed any intent to. He is not important, except as a whipping boy for their propaganda. And a pardon for such preposterous prosecution is fine with me.
Trump's entire stchick is gaming every system to manipulate things in his favour. The Dems always take the higher ground and always get pounded. Every single time - Gore in 2000, particularly.
If Biden 'pardons' his son to ameliorate Hunter's political persecution, then it's a step in the right direction to push back. Tame as it is, the Dems better learn to fight fire with napalm before all is lost.
Reading through these comments and seeing people excuse this because trump is worse validates the race-to-the-bottom strategy that republicans and democrats cooperate on. Republicans will keep lowering the bar while democrats will continue hovering slightly above that bar as their only differentiator and we're all on the ride on the way down.
This is SUPREME CORRUPTION! What next? He's going to Appointment Family Members to Government Positions? Allow the Highest Bidders to Buy OVERSIGHT Positions? SELL Pardons? DISGUSTING!
The scary thing about this is not that he did it. But that this is where we are at. I believe (I'm not from the us and don't follow politics so could be wrong). That Biden believed in the system and thought others did too.
But with Trump coming in, he now believes the system is broken. What he believed in is broken. And as such he's getting what's his, for himself. And now democrat or Republican they both will stomp on the US system to get what they want.
And I have no doubt that the US people are really going to learn what that truly means. When you throwaway the guard rails that you used to believe in. I hope you watch closely.
i would have said 'no' a little while ago but now fuck it, the people have spoken. the problem now is that he isn't doing enough fuckery to benefit the people. supreme court declared that the president is above the law and he isn't doing anything with that. sc did it for trump but biden could and should use it. literally send everything on the dod depot to ukraine, give unlimited funds to solar and wind, forgive every loan and shoot modafukin steve bannon in the face
Lol I don't give a fuck, if I had a functional democracy with justice then maybe k would care, but this system is clearly FUBAR
Fuck that. Peacefully handing over the country to the oligarchy and this is what he uses his now completely unlimited presidential power for. What a fucking dick.
He could have expanded the court. He could have abolished the electoral college. He could have assassinated Trump. He could have done anything to help anyone but his family but he didn't. What a fucking dick.
EDIT: Not suggesting he should have gone dark Brandon and assassinated Trump.
Not a great look but at the same time I am not upset about it.
Biden 2028!
"Hey, you've seen my hog and you know I was a crackhead."
Hunter individually didn't really deserve a pardon for tax offenses but I can understand it. Hopefully since we're going full fuck it mode with presidential powers Biden can do something much more deserving of the powers like removing marijuana as a controlled substance and pardoning non-violent marijuana felons.
The GOP has zero moral fibers to stand on. Joe free yourself from these Nazi shits.
What's funny is the expectation by so many here that a guy "unwaveringly supporting" people mass murdering children for their etnicity would have the Morals to not pardon his own son when he can do it at no cost to himself.
Like all other sociopaths only considerations about "consequences" drive his choices.
That's wild. Lots of people thought he would wait until sentencing to decide.
Wish my dad was a millionaire president.