Just before his tenure is going to end, President Biden decided to use his presidential powers to protect his own, showing a gross misuse of authority. Astonishingly, choosing his personal interests over the rule of law, Biden issued a ‘Full and Unconditional Pardon’ for his son, Hunter Biden, who has been mired in myriad of legal and personal issues.
Is this a blatant attempt to evade justice? It certainly seems so. This inexplicable action comes just as we were on the cusp of a much-needed transfer of power to President-elect Donald J. Trump—a figure who has persistently and rightly advanced criticism over Hunter’s questionable conduct over the years.
So, Mr. Biden, weakening the foundations of fair administration, decided to save his son from responsibilities of his previous illegal acts while enjoying a serene weekend getaway with his family. Is it not a significant contradiction and cause for concern for a president to so dismissively waive off legal consequences of criminal actions?
Seated at the helm of the nation, he not only absolved his own offspring of federal conviction for those serious charges, such as illegal procurement of a firearm and tax evasion, but also dismissed them as ‘politically motivated’—a common yet weak excuse. Such actions simply make us question the basis of this decision, raising doubts about favoritism and nepotism in the highest office of the nation.
What were the crimes that Hunter was granted clemency for? According to the official White House statement, regardless of the nature of the offenses committed by Hunter against the United States, for any misdeed performed during the circuit from January 1, 2014, till December 1, 2024, Hunter was granted full clemency. A 10-year pena free ticket, isn’t that rather excessive?
Joe Biden, in his statement, portrayed these offenses as engineered by his political adversaries just to harm his political credentials. His reasoning was solely based on the allegation that these charges were instigated by ‘several of my political opponents in Congress’. Inability or refusal to provide substantive evidence to back this claim however, leaves these statements hollow and unwarranted.
The President absurdly alleged, ‘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.’ Could it be that the president is seeking to misdirect public opinion by invoking sympathy for his ‘targeted’ son, rather than owning the harsh realities of his crimes?
Also in Biden’s narrative, ‘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.’ The attempt here to blur the line between personal achievements and legal wrongdoings only proves that dignitaries, even at this nightfall of his career, are reluctant to acknowledge the separation of personal and public spheres.
Toward the end of his statement, Biden appears to paint himself as a victim, stating that in trying to ‘break’ Hunter, they’ve tried to break him, and insinuates that the ‘attacks’ will not cease. Is he using his son’s public castigation as a shield to deflect scrutiny away from himself?
This audacious action is a far departure from the principles that Joe Biden touted during his presidential campaigns and tenure—a supposed advocate of unhampered administration of justice. But his recent turnaround has proven otherwise, and the unconditional pardon for his son blatantly contradicts these ideals.
During his 2020 campaign, Biden advocated that former President Donald J. Trump should be removed from office to restore independence in America’s democracy. However, it seems that Biden’s actions have put the last nail in the coffin of his self-proclaimed dedication towards upholding the rule of law and democracy.
Biden’s pardon of his son, once again, shows the extent to which he is willing to go to shield his own from the consequences of their misdeeds. This self-serving action seems to be a failing strategy in an attempt to protect his legacy but instead mires him deeper in the accusations of favoritism.
Remember, Biden was poised as a beacon of change, vowing to uphold and restore the principles of democracy. Now, as he faces a transition of power to someone who has constantly criticized and scrutinized his administration, he has taken an action that puts his own claims into question.
Contrary to Biden’s suggestion that these charges against Hunter were part of a political witch hunt, there has been a body of evidence suggesting serious infractions. Disguising such pardons as a fight against a supposed political vendetta is a weak attempt to cloak the severity of Hunter’s deeds.
One cannot negate the fact that with this pardon, Biden has not only brought the integrity of his long-spanning career into question but has cast an immense cloud on the purported transparency of his administration.
In conclusion, this entire episode serves as an eye-opening instance leading to nationwide cynicism about the conflicting interests of politicians. The misuse of presidential powers for personal gains has reminded the public yet again, about the need for genuine checks and balances in our democratic system.