Biden claims he “means what he says” and promises not to reassure Hunter, hoping it won’t set a precedent
President Biden still claims he “meant it” when he promised not to pardon his son Hunter, admitting in a new interview that he hopes it doesn’t set a precedent for future presidents to “abuse” the pardon power.
The president has repeatedly promised not to pardon his son, but last month he reversed course and pardoned Hunter for all crimes against the United States he committed or may have committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024. Leniency.
The move even angered some of Biden’s own supporters, who had previously been praised by Democrats and media liberals for not using his influence to help his family to uphold the integrity of the justice system.
In an exit interview published by USA Today on Wednesday, he defended one of the most controversial moves of his tenure, but appeared to have lost track of the timeline for his son’s actions, according to the transcript.
U.S. President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden hug on stage at the end of the first day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on August 19, 2024. : Brendan SMIALOWSKI/AFP) (Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP, Getty Images) (Brendan Smialowski/AFP, Getty Images)
Hunter Biden pardon: Media’s latest blow to credibility amid botched coverage of broken promises
“When it comes to pardons, every parent can understand why you would want to protect your son,” USA Today’s Susan Page told Biden. “Are you concerned that your pardon of Hunter sets a precedent for future presidents? A precedent that could be abused?”
“I hope not, because when I was asked if I would pardon my son, I meant it,” Biden said. “But then I discovered two factors. One, he has paid all his taxes. . He was late. He was fighting a drug problem. He had been sober for almost six years now, I mean, 2000… a long time ago. He’d paid it off before.
“There are hundreds of people who have $3, $4, $500,000 and are living civilized lives. He pays all his taxes. He pays his back taxes. He pays… He’s late. He should pay his taxes.” And he pays his taxes. remained in court while the plea agreement was reached.
FILE – President Joe Biden, wearing a Team America jacket, walks with son Hunter Biden to Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
Hunter Biden says his mistakes were ‘exploited’ for political campaign, says he won’t deserve pardon
Biden said he intervened because he believed his son was being held to a double standard. One of Hunter’s crimes was that he purchased a gun in 2018 and lied on a form, claiming he was not under the influence of drugs or addicted to drugs at the time.
“Then the second thing I found out is that when you buy a gun, if you’re under any influence, you have to sign a form,” the president told USA Today. “Well, I don’t even know if they signed the form directly. But the point is, no one has been tried for this. No one. They could have put him in jail for X years for this. He had it for two days , no weapons, no bullets, no departure, and no one was tried for it.
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Biden added in the interview that he was considering preemptive pardons for prominent Trump foes such as Anthony Fauci and former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney.
President Joe Biden says he is considering preemptive pardons based on President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees for key positions. (Getty Images)
“It depends in part on who he puts in where,” he said. President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Kash Patel to lead the FBI and Pam Bondi to lead the Justice Department, although they still need Senate approval.
Biden’s pardon of Hunter was seen by some as a natural move to protect his family, but many prominent figures derided it as a cowardly backlash that would damage the White House and the president’s legacy.
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“Everyone looks stupid,” Pod Save America co-host and former Obama aide Tommy Vietor said at the time. “Everyone looks full of shit. When Democrats warn about Trump’s corruption or threats to rule or threats to democracy, Republicans will use that to argue that this is just politics.”
Biden was outspoken last year in saying he would not pardon his son. Asked by ABC’s David Muir if he had ruled that out, he replied: “Yes.”
