Lawmakers were critical of President Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted in two separate federal cases earlier this year. The pardon came after the president and his communications team had previously denied any plans to pardon Hunter, who pleaded guilty to federal tax charges in September to avoid a public trial for failing to pay taxes while spending lavishly on drugs, escorts, luxury hotel stays, and other items. Hunter was also convicted of felony gun charges in June after lying on a mandatory gun purchase form.
Republican lawmakers such as House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan condemned Biden’s decision to pardon his son. They accused the president of lying about his family’s alleged corrupt influence peddling activities and avoiding accountability for their actions. Jordan questioned why Biden issued the pardon if there was nothing to the impeachment inquiry Republicans had pushed for, suggesting a potential link between the two.
In response to the pardon, Hunter Biden filed a lawsuit against former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, accusing him of violating his privacy rights by sharing content from a laptop Hunter had dropped off at a computer store in Delaware. Giuliani responded to the pardon by alleging that it was not out of fatherly love but rather to protect Joe Biden’s own interests, as Hunter had supposedly shared money with his father’s alleged boss. Senator Chuck Grassley expressed shock at the pardon, as Biden had previously stated he had no plans to pardon his son, leading Grassley to question his own beliefs.
Former President Donald Trump also weighed in on the pardon, expressing disbelief and suggesting that Biden’s actions were an abuse and miscarriage of justice, particularly in comparison to the January 6th detainees. Trump’s transition team condemned the pardon, highlighting what they perceived as a weaponization of the justice system against Trump and promising to restore due process for all Americans once Trump returned to the White House. IRS investigators Gary Shapley and Joe Ziegler, who had blown the whistle on political interference into Hunter’s tax crimes, released a statement criticizing the Justice Department’s handling of the case and emphasizing the special privilege given to the powerful.
The reaction to President Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter has been met with criticism and accusations of corruption by Republican lawmakers and former President Donald Trump. The pardon has raised questions about accountability, alleged influence peddling, and potential political interference in the justice system. Hunter’s lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani, as well as statements from IRS investigators, sheds light on the complexity and controversy surrounding the case. The fallout from the pardon may continue to fuel political debates and calls for transparency, justice, and accountability within the Biden administration.
