On Dec. 1, 2024, President Biden issued a full and unconditional pardon for his son, Hunter Biden. Biden issued the pardon for crimes his son committed or may have committed from Jan. 1, 2014, to Dec. 1, 2024.
The crimes consist of “making a false statement in the purchase of a firearm,” “making a false statement related to information required to be kept by a federally licensed firearms dealer” and “possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance.” He also has tax affairs that have been under criminal investigation since 2018, and in September 2024 Hunter Biden pled guilty to all of them.
Biden repeatedly said he would not pardon his son, but ultimately changed his mind. Biden believed that a pardon was one thing he could do for his troubled son, a recovering addict, who he felt had been subjected to years of public pain.
The power of the pardon is an expression of the president’s forgiveness of a crime, and this significant power goes back to the U.S. Constitution. A pardon doesn’t mean the crime wasn’t committed — it’s saying the offender has taken responsibility for their actions and shown they are an improved person.
“The power, which has historical roots in early English law, has been recognized by the Supreme Court as quite broad,” according to the Congress Constitution government website. The power of the pardon is broad, but not unlimited, and presidents cannot pardon in the case of impeachment.
During Donald Trump’s first presidency, he issued 144 pardons. One in 2017, six in 2018, 11 in 2019, 52 in 2020 and 74 in January 2021.
During the 2024 election cycle, an issue many voters had with Trump was his involvement with the Jan. 6 insurrection. On Jan. 6, 2021, a mob of supporters of then-President Trump attacked the U.S. Capitol building. Two months prior, Trump had lost the 2020 election; Jan. 6 was the day the then-Vice President Mike Pence was to certify the electoral vote of Biden’s victory in the Capitol building. Trump insisted that Pence not certify the vote, however, Pence refused. Trump then began to tweet allegations of fraud.
In his Twitter post, he said, “All Mike Pence has to do is send them back to the States, AND WE WIN. Do it Mike, this is a time for extreme courage.” Trump then began his rally in Washington D.C., encouraging supporters to protest at the capitol, saying “I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.” However, Trump also said “We fight like hell. And if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”
As he spoke, crowds began surrounding the outside of the Capitol building. They began to march to the Capitol, and, outnumbering the police, they made it inside. Some rioters took part in vandalism and looting, including in the offices of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Congress members. Rioters also assaulted capitol police officers and journalists.
Trump plans to issue pardons of Jan. 6 rioters on his first day in office. “I am inclined to pardon many of them. I can’t say for every single one because a couple of them, probably, they got out of control,” he said on May 11, 2023, at CNN Town Hall.
The power of the pardon leads many Americans to wonder, at what point is there a lack of accountability for their actions?
Republican senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas wrote on social media, “Most Americans can sympathize with a father’s decision to pardon his son, even if they disagree. What they can’t forgive is Biden lying about it repeatedly before the election.”
Ohio Democratic representative Greg Landsman wrote, “As a father, I get it. But as someone who wants people to believe in public service again, it’s a setback.” Another Democrat, Colorado Senator Michael Bennet, said Biden’s decision placed “personal interest ahead of duty and further erodes Americans’ faith that the justice system is fair and equal for all.”
Representative Greg Stanton of Arizona said, “I respect President Biden, but I think he got this one wrong. This wasn’t a politically-motivated prosecution. Hunter committed felonies, and was convicted by a jury of his peers.” Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado also wrote, “President Biden’s decision put personal interest ahead of duty and further erodes Americans’ faith that the justice system is fair and equal for all.”
Overall, many are upset with Biden’s decision, and are disappointed in his choice for his pardon, especially with his inconsistent reasoning.
