Joe Biden’s Shocking Pardon of Hunter Sparks Fierce Debate – What You Need to Know

The President and his supporters contend that Hunter Biden’s charges are politically motivated, claiming they stem solely from his family name. However, this use of presidential authority may also appear to lend credibility to Trump’s criticisms.

By Sheenu Gupta On Dec 4, 2024 Share with new partner:

President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter, who is awaiting sentencing in two criminal cases, presents a deeply layered and emotionally charged narrative. Was it the compassionate act of a father who has endured profound personal tragedies, extending mercy to his child in a time of need? Or was it a calculated political move, one that mirrors the controversial strategies of his staunch adversary, former President Donald Trump? Perhaps the truth lies somewhere in between.

The announcement on Sunday likely emerged from an intense internal conflict within Biden, a struggle akin to the moral dilemmas explored in Shakespearean drama—a clash between the responsibilities of his public role and the deeply personal pull of his fatherly instincts. On one hand, Biden may have been motivated by a genuine desire to shield his son from what he and his supporters perceive as politically charged legal persecution. On the other, the decision risks reinforcing criticisms of double standards and political favoritism, echoing the very accusations he has often leveled against his predecessor.

This pardon, therefore, not only shapes Hunter Biden’s legal future but also adds a complex layer to Joe Biden’s legacy, blending personal compassion with the unavoidable realities of political optics.

President Joe Biden is often described as one of Washington’s last true institutionalists, a leader deeply committed to the principles of governance and the separation of powers. His belief in the independence of the Justice Department has been a cornerstone of his presidency. “From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making,” Biden declared in a rare, candid statement on Sunday, underscoring how deeply this principle is ingrained in his political philosophy. For Biden, undermining the separation of powers would contradict the very foundation of his public service and the values he has championed throughout his career.

Yet, alongside his unwavering commitment to institutions is an equally powerful devotion to family, a force that defines him just as much as his political identity. Biden frequently invokes memories of his parents in speeches, using their lessons as guiding principles. As a young senator, his dedication to his children was vividly demonstrated when he made a round-trip train journey from Washington, D.C., to Wilmington, Delaware, just to watch his daughter Ashley blow out the candles on her eighth birthday cake before rushing back to work.

This steadfast commitment to family is shaped by profound personal loss. The tragic death of his first wife, Neilia, and their 13-month-old daughter Naomi in a car accident left an indelible mark on Biden, as did the devastating loss of his son Beau to brain cancer decades later. These experiences have left him deeply acquainted with grief, what Ernest Hemingway famously called “the broken places” of life.

It is within this context that the legal troubles of his surviving son, Hunter, take on an added weight. Hunter’s status as the first child of a sitting president to face criminal charges is not merely a political challenge but a personal agony for Biden, intertwining his public responsibilities with his private heartbreak. For a man who views family as his bedrock, Hunter’s struggles likely evoke the same protective instincts that have defined Biden’s journey as a father, even as they test the principles he has upheld as a president.

Hunter Biden was convicted earlier this year on charges of lying about his drug use when purchasing a firearm, a crime that drew widespread attention. At the time, President Joe Biden firmly stated that he would not intervene in the case, telling reporters, “I abide by the jury decision. I will do that and I will not pardon him.” Additionally, Hunter pleaded guilty to tax evasion in a separate case, with sentencing for both offenses scheduled for later this month.

However, reports suggest that President Biden spent months wrestling with the decision. His internal conflict was likely influenced by the results of last month’s presidential election, which saw Donald Trump return to power. Faced with the prospect of his son being subjected to a justice system that could become politically weaponized under Trump’s administration, Biden’s resolve to stay uninvolved began to waver. The idea of leaving Hunter to what he feared would be a vindictive, partisan Justice Department became unbearable.

Known for his habit of consulting close family on major decisions, Biden likely made the final call during an intimate Thanksgiving gathering. In his public statement, the president was unapologetic, declaring, “No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son—and that is wrong.” He went on to describe the charges as “a miscarriage of justice,” framing the pardon as a necessary response to an unjust situation.

He added: “There has been an effort to break Hunter – who has been five and a half years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution. In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me – and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough.”

Joe Biden’s defenders will certainly contend that, if Hunter had been an ordinary citizen, the gun case would not have come this far, and his father was simply righting that wrong. Republicans spent years hyping investigations into Hunter that failed to produce a shred of evidence linking his father to corruption.

Eric Holder, a former attorney general, wrote on social media that no US attorney “would have charged this case given the underlying facts. After a five-year investigation the facts as discovered only made that clear. Had his name been Joe Smith the resolution would have been – fundamentally and more fairly – a declination. Pardon warranted.”

Observers have noted that presidential pardons with personal or familial ties are not without precedent. During his presidency, Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother for decades-old cocaine charges, while Donald Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, his son-in-law’s father, for tax evasion and witness retaliation—though both men had already served their prison sentences. Trump also used the final days of his first term to pardon controversial figures like Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort, and Roger Stone.

Still, many Americans find something unsettling about a sitting president granting a pardon to a family member, especially when numerous other cases might arguably deserve attention. For Republicans in the House of Representatives, this move provided ammunition for renewed attacks, with exaggerated claims about the so-called “Biden crime family.”

Criticism wasn’t limited to partisan opponents. Jared Polis, the Democratic governor of Colorado, voiced his disappointment, writing on social media, “While as a father, I certainly understand President Biden’s natural desire to help his son, I am disappointed that he chose to put his family ahead of the country. This sets a troubling precedent that could be misused by future presidents and will unfortunately tarnish his legacy.”

Former Republican congressman Joe Walsh, now a vocal critic of Donald Trump, expressed strong disapproval of Biden’s actions during an interview on MSNBC.

“Joe Biden repeatedly said he wouldn’t do this, so he lied multiple times,” Walsh said. “This only deepens the public’s cynicism about politics, and that cynicism plays directly into Trump’s hands. It allows Trump to argue, ‘I’m not a unique threat—everyone does this. If I help my kid or my son-in-law, it’s no different from what Biden does.’ Politically, this was a selfish decision by Biden, and it ultimately strengthens Trump. It’s just disheartening.”

Trump’s looming return to power is an inescapable factor in this morally complex situation. Next month, he will make history as the first convicted criminal to be sworn in as president, even as three cases against him have effectively stalled. Trump has already indicated plans to install loyalists in key positions within the FBI and Justice Department, signaling his intent to reshape these institutions in his favor.

Reflecting on the broader implications, some recalled Michelle Obama’s famous call to moral high ground: “When they go low, we go high.” Yet on Sunday, at age 82 and with little left to lose, President Biden appeared to take a different path. His decision, while controversial, might ultimately reflect what any parent in his position would do—prioritizing family above all else, even at political cost.