President Joe Biden this week did something that he long promised he would not do: He pardoned his son, Hunter, following his convictions on tax and gun charges. The decision has led to condemnation across the political spectrum, as well as speculation that it could “embolden” Donald Trump to issue controversial pardons of his own.
Now, First Lady Jill Biden has weighed in on the pardon of her stepson.
“Of course, I support the pardon of my son,” Jill Biden said Monday, in response to shouted questions from reporters at a White House holiday party, as she posed for pictures with children.
“Of course I support the pardon of my son.”
First lady Jill Biden reacted to Pres. Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted on tax evasion and federal gun charges and was due for sentencing in December. https://t.co/WH8uDN1Cha pic.twitter.com/pBuYhDmnfz
— ABC News (@ABC) December 2, 2024
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The president, in pardoning his son, issued a statement explaining his reasoning.
“From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted,” Biden said. “Without aggravating factors like use in a crime, multiple purchases, or buying a weapon as a straw purchaser, people are almost never brought to trial on felony charges solely for how they filled out a gun form. Those who were late paying their taxes because of serious addictions, but paid them back subsequently with interest and penalties, are typically given non-criminal resolutions. It is clear that Hunter was treated differently.”
Biden also discussed how a plea bargain had been reached that would allow his son to escape jail time, before it collapsed; the younger Biden had also been subject to years of investigations by Republican-led Congressional committees, who spent a great deal of time trying, and failing, to tie the president to his son’s overseas business deals and discover wrongdoing.
“Here’s the truth: 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,” the president added.
Photo courtesy of the Political Tribune media library.
