Joe Biden’s contentious pardon of his own son, Hunter, may end up serving as a carte blanche for the future President, Donald Trump, to grant his own set of pardons as he assumes office. In a recent NBC’s Meet the Press interview, Trump intimated as much, hinting at pardoning several individuals implicated in the notorious U.S. Capitol breach that occurred on January 6th, 2021. Trump portrayed these individuals, some of whom had been imprisoned for up to three years, as suffering unduly. He made ambitious promises of issuing pardons on his first day in office, raising eyebrows among a large section of the American populous.
In excess of 1,500 individuals were leveled with charges relating to the Capitol assault. As Biden issued his questionable pardon for Hunter, Trump queried whether this pardon also encompassed the ‘January 6 Hostages’, as he labeled them, who had been languishing in prison for years. Trump labeled Biden’s action as a blatant disregard for justice.
The prospective President, Trump, had already pledged during his campaign to liberate numerous January 6 protesters. His speech highlighted his plans, although he prudently affirmed he could not promise mass pardons, flagging a few instances where matters had escalated out of hand. He left his audience in no doubt, however, that a significant proportion of the protestors would be pardoned swiftly once he took office.
Trump left the possibility open of issuing a blanket pardon for his associated attorneys, a move that would cover federal crimes spanning over ten years. This move would mirror Biden’s problematic pardon for Hunter and potential pardons for other Biden officials. Following these events, Biden’s ability to lay claim to the moral superiority and defend the Democratic Party’s messaging machine seems laughably futile.
Consequently, the Department of Justice indicated its intention of discontinuing any proceeding cases against Trump, honoring the established rule that sitting presidents are immune from prosecution. As ironic as it may seem, it might be a time of pardons as Biden’s team contemplate issuing a wave, designed explicitly to act as protection for Biden’s allies against the prosecution efforts of a Trump administration.
Democratic Senator Blumenthal voiced his vehement opposition to these blanket pardons. He advocated for direct confrontation against Donald Trump – whom he referred to as a bully – as opposed to retreating and hiding. The senator expressed concern over any potential misuse of the Department of Justice, adding his voice to the dissent against providing immunity to those who may find themselves in Trump’s crosshairs.
Blumenthal reminded us that unchecked pardons could indirectly result in the targeting of those without such a pardon, creating a plethora of victims that could be attacked. Despite his previous promises in the 2016 cycle about draining the swamp and prosecuting Hillary Clinton, political opponents remained untouched during his term in the Department of Justice.
Biden’s contentious choice to issue such a divisive pardon at the start of the lame duck period, as opposed to his exit, additionally allows Trump to strategically prepare for his next course of actions. The Hunter pardon fiasco symbolizes a potential Pandora’s box, the consequences of which, though beyond the years of Biden’s presidency, may still continue to haunt future administrations.
Evidently, the Biden administration’s move to pardon Hunter indicates a brazen disregard for justice and a slap in the face of the American people. This reckless use of executive authority further undermines the democratic processes and principles that the Democratic Party so often claims to uphold.
The possible pardon spree hinted at by the incoming President Trump, on the other hand, further fuels the ongoing national debate about the misuse of presidential pardons. It feeds into the narrative of a society where certain individuals, based on their connections and alliances, can evade justice.
Biden’s immunity to prosecution as a sitting president, however unfairly it seems to be applied, again brings to the fore the inconsistent standards applied to the powerful. Questions are thus raised about the future implications on governance, democratic values, and the rule of law.
The potential wave of pardons planned by the Biden administration may serve as a tool for evading accountability, eroding the credibility of the Democratic party. These actions risk further polarizing an already divided nation, undermining public faith in the American justice system.
The assertion of Blumenthal about standing up to ‘bullies’ like Donald Trump rings hollow. It reeks of political opportunism and does not consider the larger picture – the systemic problems in the political and justice system that enable the misuse of presidential pardons.
Even though Donald Trump did not prosecute political opponents during his previous term, the controversies surrounding the Hunter pardon and the implications of similar pardons serve as a stark reminder of the potential abuses of power in executive favoritism. The repercussions of these pardons, both individual and institutional, may well change the course of American politics well beyond Biden’s presidency