President Joe Biden made a controversial move when he said that his son Hunter Biden would be fully pardoned.
This caused a lot of criticism and increased political tensions. Former President-elect Donald Trump was one of the first people to say how angry he was.
In a fiery post on Truth Social, he called the pardon a “abuse and miscarriage of justice.”
Trump’s Sharp Rebuke
In response to Hunter Biden’s pardon, Trump questioned whether it applied to the “J-6 hostages”βpeople who were jailed for their roles in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Trump wrote, “Such an abuse and miscarriage of justice!” in reference to the harsh treatment some Capitol rioters say they received.
This was in line with previous comments Trump made criticizing what he sees as the selective weaponization of the justice system under Democratic leadership.
Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, agreed, saying that the pardon was an example of a larger effort to protect political allies while going after opposition figures like Trump.
“The system of justice must be fixed and due process restored for all Americans,” Cheung stressed.
Biden Defends the Pardon
President Biden defended his choice to pardon his son in a written statement. He said that Hunter Biden’s legal problems were being turned into political issues.
When you look at the facts of Hunter’s case, Biden said, “No reasonable person can come to any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son.”
He also talked about his son’s road to sobriety and how strong he was under a lot of pressure. He said that the attacks on Hunter were an attempt to weaken him as a father and a leader.
The president claimed that Hunter Bidenβs legal battles were unfairly amplified due to his familial ties, adding, βEnough is enough.β
Hunter could have gotten harsh sentences, like up to 42 years in prison for gun and tax convictions together, but Biden stepped in and stopped the case.
Republican Backlash
Republicans are once again criticizing Biden for how he has handled claims of family corruption.
The head of the House Oversight Committee, Representative James Comer (R-Ky.), said Biden was not telling the truth.
Comer wrote on social media, “Not only did he lie when he said he would not pardon Hunter Biden, but he also lied when he said he never met with his son’s foreign business partners.”
Many GOP figures say that the pardon undermines public trust in the judicial process. They think it’s a clear case of unfair treatment, especially since other people, like those involved in the Capitol riot, have had to deal with legal and political problems.
Trumpβs Historical View on Pardons
It’s interesting that Trump is criticizing while also being open to the idea of Hunter Biden getting a pardon.
In an interview in October, Trump said that if he was re-elected, he “wouldn’t take it off the books.”
This was a hint that political goals should not come before national unity. But since then, he has become more angry about the problem and sees Biden’s move as a sign of deeper systemic corruption.
Looking Ahead
The pardon shows how divided U.S. politics are, especially when it comes to the justice system.
Biden said he did what he did as a father’s duty and to fight politically motivated attacks, but critics, led by Trump, see it as another example of unfair government.
With Trump about to run for president again, this issue will likely remain at the center of the country’s political and legal conversations.