President Joe Biden has managed to disgruntle some of his own party members not only by pardoning his son, Hunter Biden, but in the style with which he did so. The President made the unusual and shocking move of granting ‘full and unconditional’ absolution of any possible crimes his son may have been involved in from the start of 2014 until the end of 2024. The White House released this controversial news via a statement on a quiet Sunday evening.
Biden’s altered course from his continual vocal refusal to employ his executive power in favor of his son to his recent change of heart has added fuel to the fire of disappointment amongst Democrats. He attempted to justify his about-face by blaming it on the reason that his son was pursued ‘selectively and unfairly’. An overt contradiction of a stand Biden had made numerous times publicly.
Such actions by Biden blatantly disrespect the years of Democratic Party protocol, strangely echoing the narrative style of Donald Trump and his advocates during his presidency. As described by Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton from Arizona during an interview with ‘Meet the Press Now’, his disappointment stemmed from Biden undermining the importance of robust political leadership in upholding justice.
Stanton sheds light on this issue by expressing his anger about the situation. He underscores the need for political leaders from both parties to defend the autonomy of the Department of Justice. His frustration also arises from the insinuations that the Department of Justice and the FBI needs to be scrutinized and restructured.
Taking advantage of Biden’s controversial move, Donald Trump acted promptly to highlight the perceived inconsistency. He referenced the individuals who were convicted for their troubling acts during the Capitol Insurrection on January 6, 2021, in his argument. Trump instigated this event by disputing the legitimacy of the 2020 elections.
Trump posed a stinging question on his social platform, Truth Social, criticizing the seemingly biased application of justice, ‘Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years?’. His jibe insinuates an abuse and unfair application of the justice system.
Meanwhile, Special Counsel David Weiss contradicted the allegations made by the President about the political motives behind the prosecution of Hunter Biden. Weiss, on Monday, discredited Biden’s claim as ‘baseless’ not mincing any words in taking up defence of the integrity of his office.
In an effort to maintain the integrity of his department, Weiss challenged Hunter Biden’s request to dismiss his tax and fraud indictment in California, based on his father’s pardon. Weiss emphasized that several judges had already dismissed Hunter’s accusations of spiteful persecution, magnifying the baselessness of Biden’s claim.
Not many members of Congress have stepped forward to express their thoughts on Biden’s unconventional pardon. However, those who have challenged it highlight its apparent innate conflict with the Democratic Party’s core principles.
Unexpected silence on this issue resonates from one prominent group of Democrats — potential 2028 presidential candidates. Their decision to withhold comments on such a topic is troubling, yet notable, and leaves the audience guessing about their views on the matter.
Furthermore, the potential fallout from this pardon is likely to have ripple effects throughout the Democratic Party. This action by President Biden might serve to further divide the party and could possibly even affect the upcoming 2028 presidential primaries.
The echo of President Biden’s move on partisanship clearly deviates from traditional Democratic customs and raises questions about the party’s view on justice. This is likely to create further divisions and problems within the Democratic party, given the looming 2028 presidential election cycle.
It will be interesting to see how the party navigates through this turbulent period, with some members expressing their disappointment and others maintaining their silence. The lack of united support towards Biden and his hasty presidential pardon throws a spanner into the workings of an already divided party.
One thing remains certain – Biden’s questionable move will create a storm of controversy that isn’t likely to settle down anytime soon. His decision, which goes against the grain of years of careful policy development, puts the future direction of the Democratic party into question and under public scrutiny.
This is likely to be a hot topic in the upcoming days, as more reactions come in and the ramifications of the decision become more apparent. The silence of many speaks volumes, and we can only wait and see what this means for the future of the Democratic party.