Reactions began coming by shortly after the announcement on Sunday night that President Joe Biden had pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, for his tax evasion and federal gun expenses.
A reversal for the president, the pardon happened two weeks earlier than his son was scheduled for sentencing in each instances: on Dec. 12 on the gun-related expenses in Delaware, and on Dec. 16 on the tax expenses in California.
Hunter Biden first launched an announcement immediately after the pardon was issued, saying partly, “I’ll by no means take the clemency I’ve been given at this time without any consideration and can dedicate the life I’ve rebuilt to serving to those that are nonetheless sick and struggling.”
Shortly afterward, his sister, Ashley Biden, posted to her tales on Instagram: “Thanks, Dad! What they’ve tried to do to my brother is merciless + politically motivated. Interval. Proud Sister + Daughter!”
Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, arrives for a closed-door deposition with the Home Oversight and Judiciary committees onN Capitol Hill in Washington, Feb. 28, 2024.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
Nonetheless, there was a much less receptive response from Washington, D.C.
Home Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, Republican of Kentucky, mentioned President Biden “lied from begin to end” in regards to the circumstances surrounding his son’s case.
In an announcement on Sunday, he mentioned, “Joe Biden has lied from begin to end about his household’s corrupt affect peddling actions. Not solely has he falsely claimed that he by no means met together with his son’s international enterprise associates and that his son did nothing flawed, however he additionally lied when he mentioned he wouldn’t pardon Hunter Biden.”
“The fees Hunter confronted had been simply the tip of the iceberg within the blatant corruption that President Biden and the Biden Crime Household have lied about to the American individuals,” he added. “It’s unlucky that, slightly than come clear about their a long time of wrongdoing, President Biden and his household proceed to do every thing they will to keep away from accountability.”
And Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan posted on X: “Democrats mentioned there was nothing to our impeachment inquiry. If that’s the case, why did Joe Biden simply difficulty Hunter Biden a pardon for the very issues we had been inquiring about?”
President Joe Biden, accompanied by Hunter Biden walks out of a bookstore in downtown Nantucket, Massachusetts, Nov. 29, 2024.
Craig Hudson/Reuters
President-elect Donald Trump addressed the pardon by citing those that had been arrested for storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 — whom he known as “J-6 Hostages.”
“Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter embody the J-6 Hostages, who’ve now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!” he posted to Fact Social.
Steven Cheung, the spokesperson for President-elect Donald Trump, additionally responded not directly, offering an announcement to ABC Information that mentioned the circumstances go to point out that the Division of Justice had weaponized the justice system — earlier than including that Trump intends to repair that in his second time period within the White Home.
“The failed witch hunts in opposition to President Trump have confirmed that the Democrat-controlled DOJ and different radical prosecutors are responsible of weaponizing the justice system,” the assertion mentioned.
“That system of justice have to be mounted and due course of have to be restored for all Individuals, which is strictly what President Trump will do as he returns to the White Home with an amazing mandate from the American individuals,” it continued.
Home Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton of Arizona mentioned in a put up on X that he disagrees with President Biden’s resolution to pardon Hunter Biden, making him the primary Home Democrat to publicly disagree with the president on the choice.
He wrote, “I respect President Biden, however I believe he bought this one flawed.”
“This wasn’t a politically-motivated prosecution. Hunter dedicated felonies, and was convicted by a jury of his friends,” Stanton added.
Spokespersons for each Particular Counsel David Weiss and Lawyer Normal Merrick Garland didn’t have a direct response to the pardon of Hunter Biden when reached by ABC Information on Sunday.
This can be a growing story. Please test again for updates.
