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Lawmakers throughout the country are condemning President Joe Biden’s decision to issue a sweeping pardon for his son, Hunter Biden.
Let’s bring you up to speed: Late last night, President Biden announced he would issue a full and unconditional pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, covering not only the federal gun and tax charges he faced but also any other offenses committed or potentially committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024. The pardon effectively shields Hunter Biden from any federal prosecution within that timeframe, regardless of whether charges have been filed or investigations are ongoing. This unprecedented move extends beyond the immediate legal cases against Hunter, granting him immunity for a decade.
Reactions from lawmakers: Following the news, Colorado Gov Jared Polis (D) said, “While as a father I certainly understand President Biden’s natural desire to help his son by pardoning him, I am disappointed that he put his family ahead of the country. This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) strongly condemned President Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, labeling it an abuse of power that undermines trust in the justice system. He said, “President Biden insisted many times he would never pardon his own son for his serious crimes. But last night he suddenly granted a ‘Full and Unconditional Pardon’ for any and all offenses that Hunter committed for more than a decade! Trust in our justice system has been almost irreparably damaged by the Bidens and their use and abuse of it.”
Congressman Greg Stanton (D-AZ), said, “I respect President Biden, but I think he got this one wrong. This wasn’t a politically-motivated prosecution. Hunter committed felonies, and was convicted by a jury of his peers.”
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY), who has led an investigation into Hunter Biden, also condemed the move, saying, “Joe Biden has lied from start to finish about his family’s corrupt influence peddling activities. Not only has he falsely claimed that he never met with his son’s foreign business associates and that his son did nothing wrong, but he also lied when he said he would not pardon Hunter Biden.”
Former Congressman Joe Walsh, who is a strong critic of President-Elect Donald Trump, did not hold back in his criticism of President Biden’s decision to pardon his son, calling it “utter bullshit” and “stupidly selfish.” In a post on X, Walsh wrote, “Shame on you @POTUS, you’ve given Trump license now to dole out favors to his family & wealthy friends. And when he does, you’ve given his supporters the opportunity to say ‘everyone does it.'” Walsh also accused Biden of breaking his word, stating bluntly, “And btw Biden, you lied.” During an appearance on MSNBC, he complained the broader implications, saying, “Nobody’s above the law, we’ve been screaming. Well, Joe Biden just made clear his son Hunter is above the law.”
The White House has not commented on the backlash.
