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Biden's Pardon of His Son Hunter: Was It an Abuse of Power?

Politics

December 12, 2024

On the first of December, President Biden released a statement outlining his controversial pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, after he was federally charged with gun indictments and other tax charges earlier this year.

This decision has caused some tension because it can be seen as biased, or even unfair. Many sources claim that a pardon for Hunter Biden was not being considered, leading this decision to be a shock and even a frustration to many, including former president Donald Trump.

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Why was Hunter Biden indicted?

In June, Biden became the first son of a US president to be charged federally for charges relating to gun ownership.

The three felonies charged were due to his buying of a handgun in 2018. Biden had lied about his drug use on one of the federal forms necessary for the purchase, keeping this illegally possessed gun for two weeks. In the midst of this, he was also awaiting sentencing for a past case involving tax evasion. A total sentencing of seventeen years was granted to him due to this tax case, and twenty-five for the gun case, prior to the pardon.

Drug abuse had been a struggle for Biden in the past, with two of his former romantic partners testifying that during the trial. One of which being the mother of three of his children, Biden’s ex-wife of fourteen years, Kathleen Buhle.

Buhle took to the stand and claimed that her husband's behavior change with his addiction, he became “angry” and “short-tempered” compared to when he was sober, which is certainly not a suitable state to be in when purchasing any weapon.

Biden’s Statement

Read the statement here: Statement from President Joe Biden | The White House

Joe Biden by The White House on Wikimedia Commons

President Biden issued a statement determining the pardon shortly after the trial, explaining that even after claiming he would not interfere with the justice department, he observed the trial and noted that his son had been “unfairly prosecuted.”

The statement essentially says that even though Hunter may have committed the crime, people are hardly ever brought to trial for it. The 82-year-old stated that Hunter was singled out in this trial because of his relation to the president, with most others being faced with the same charges and not even having to be taken to court in the first place. This is a credible factor, since Hunter Biden is the son of such a prominent figure, his actions are automatically going to have some form of spotlight on them.

This pardon conveys a complete dismissal of any crimes that Biden committed or may have committed in the past ten years (from January 1st, 2014 to December 1st, 2024). The declaration in question also includes the perspective of the president and his belief in the justice system. He announced this statement was made not just as a president, but as a father.

Trump's Reaction

Shortly after the pardon was announce, former president Donald Trump joined a large number of Americans, including a rising number of democrats, and released a short statement on social media displaying his frustration with Biden's decision to pardon his son.

Donald Trump by Gage Skidmore on Wikimedia Commons

In the statement, the pardon was referred to as an “abuse” and a “miscarriage of justice.” Though, this is slightly hypocritical considering Trump's reputation with pardoning people. Not only this, but Trump also refers to the people imprisoned due to the January 6th riot as “hostages.” before sarcastically asking if Biden's pardon includes dismissal of those indicted.

This statement originally brought up some suspicions that Trump may pardon the January 6th offenders, before he confirmed it recently in his first network interview since winning the election back in November. He vowed that on his “first day” in office, he would begin to look at the January 6th pardons. It can be said that Trump was already considering pardoning the rioters, but after Biden pardoned his son, nothing now stands in his way.

Was it wrong?

In sum, Biden’s pardon is complicated. Many people have been charged and convicted for the same crime as Hunter Biden. Yet those regular people did not have an opportunity to get away.

It can be argued that this decision was a biased one, but it could also be said that it was an empathetic one for not just a president, but for a father and a son. Thus, even though the pardon was expected, and not very fair regarding the regular justice system’s views, it makes sense why Biden made this decision out of being a father.

Lucie Stewart

Writer since Nov, 2024 · 3 published articles

Lucie is an England-born aspiring writer/journalist who is currently in high school. With a passion for writing, she spends her time letting her mind wander, unraveling new ideas and topics to ponder. But when she is not writing, you can find her listening to old music, or in her room watching a movie.

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