With just 50 days left in his presidency, President Joe Biden has decided to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, for federal felony gun and tax convictions, despite previously stating he wouldn’t use his executive power for this purpose.
Rhode Island resident Tiffany DuPont expressed disappointment, saying, For that to be his last move in office, as a Democrat, doesn’t make me too happy.
Hunter Biden’s pardon comes just weeks before he was scheduled to be sentenced for the charges. Critics, like Rhode Island GOP Chair Joe Powers, were quick to condemn the decision. He gets to walk away from things that normal Americans would be thrown in prison for, Powers said, adding, It’s remarkable that in the 11th hour, he decides to do this after saying he’d never interfere with the Department of Justice.
However, Republicans may face similar scrutiny if Donald Trump, expected to return to office, issues controversial pardons of his own.
DuPont raised an important question: Who knows if Trump is going to pardon himself? If you can pardon your son, why can’t you pardon yourself
The decision has sparked a heated debate about fairness, presidential powers, and the potential for political bias in high-profile pardons.