Rage against Biden after the U-turn: "Disappointed"
Knut Sahlin Ekberg
Updated 12.52 | Published 09.30
Quick version
- President Joe Biden has pardoned his son Hunter Biden, drawing criticism from both Republicans and Democrats.
- Several public figures, including Republican politicians and Democratic supporters, have expressed displeasure with Biden's decision.
- Biden is not the first president to pardon a family member; similar pardons have occurred under previous administrations.
Reactions and criticism have raged from Republicans and Democrats alike.
- This pardon will echo through history, says Republican Eric Burlison.
Despite Joe Biden previously being clear, he reversed last night. Now he pardons his son Hunter Biden, who was convicted of weapons offenses and pleaded guilty to tax fraud.
In his statement, Biden writes that he wrestled with the issue but ended up with politics infecting the process and leading to a "judicial murder".
President-elect Donald Trump called it a judicial abuse.
“Does Joe's pardon include the January 6 hostages, who have now been held for years? What an abuse and judicial murder!”, wrote the president-elect.
Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn criticized Biden's decision and expressed that: "There are two legal systems in Biden's United States." Missouri Congressman Eric Burlison called it "a shameless display of nepotism."
- This pardon will echo through history as a clear signal that under this administration the scales of justice are tipped in favor of those with power, connections and the surname Biden, Eric Burlison continued.
Joe Biden has consistently expressed that he would not pardon his son. The day after the election, the question was addressed to the White House again. The answer was the same: "The answer remains and it is no".
- President Biden has repeatedly said that he would not do this, but I sensed a few months ago that it would probably happen, says Sarah Krissoff and continues:
- He put his family first. It does not surprise me, despite the statements he made publicly that he would not do this.
Democrats criticize the decision
Donald Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., also says that the decision was expected.“Everyone knew he was going to do it. He just waited to do it until there were no consequences for democratic electability," he writes on X.
Elon Musk just wrote "wow" and shared Donald Trump Jr's tweet.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis writes that he understood the president's decision as a father, but that he is still disappointed.
“I am disappointed that he put his family before the country. This is a bad precedent that can be exploited by future presidents and will unfortunately tarnish his reputation," he writes.
Democrat Greg Staunton, Arizona congressman, is also critical.
“I respect President Biden. But here he made a mistake," he writes.
Several presidents have pardoned relatives
However, Joe Biden is not the first president to pardon a family member or relative.On Bill Clinton's last day as president, he pardoned his half-brother, Roger Clinton, for drug offenses.
A month before Donald Trump left the White House, he pardoned his son-in-law's father, Charles Kushner, for, among other things, tax crimes.
FACTS
In 1972, his mother and one-year-old sister died in a car accident. Hunter and his older brother Beau were in the car and were injured but survived.
In 1977, Joe Biden remarried to educator Jill Tracy Jacobs. In 1981, they had a daughter, Ashley Biden.
In 2015, the family suffered another tragedy when Joe Biden's eldest son Beau died of brain cancer.
Hunter Biden has struggled with alcohol and drug addiction for much of his life. His dealings in Ukraine, in particular the cooperation with the energy company Burisma, have been the subject of several investigations.
(Source: TT)
This is Hunter Biden
Born 1970. Businessman and lawyer with a degree from the prestigious Yale University. He is the son of the current US President Joe Biden and his first wife Neilia Hunter.In 1972, his mother and one-year-old sister died in a car accident. Hunter and his older brother Beau were in the car and were injured but survived.
In 1977, Joe Biden remarried to educator Jill Tracy Jacobs. In 1981, they had a daughter, Ashley Biden.
In 2015, the family suffered another tragedy when Joe Biden's eldest son Beau died of brain cancer.
Hunter Biden has struggled with alcohol and drug addiction for much of his life. His dealings in Ukraine, in particular the cooperation with the energy company Burisma, have been the subject of several investigations.
(Source: TT)
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