World
December 2, 2024 06:10
washington - President Biden has granted clemency to his son Hunter despite previous claims, while Trump criticizes the decision and calls for pardoning Capitol rioters.
President Biden has decided to grant clemency to his son Hunter, contrary to his previous statements. Biden had previously stated that he would not issue a presidential pardon to his son, who was found guilty of violating gun laws by a jury in June. The White House spokesperson had recently reiterated that the president's stance remained unchanged.
Even First Lady Jill Biden had previously stated in an interview with NBC News that Hunter would not be granted clemency. "Joe and I respect the justice system," she briefly commented.
In a statement, 82-year-old Biden explained that he made the decision this weekend because he believed there was a "judicial error." He emphasized his faith in the justice system while also pointing out political interference in the process. Biden concluded his statement by hoping that Americans would understand the rationale behind his decision.
The 54-year-old Hunter's convictions were related to his false statements about drug use during the purchase of a revolver, marking the first time a sitting president's child has been convicted. He also pleaded guilty in a tax case in September.
Facing a possible maximum sentence of 42 years for the twelve charges, it was anticipated that the actual sentence would be lower. The scheduled convictions later this month are now likely to be impacted by the presidential pardon, as reported by NBC News.
Following Biden's announcement of clemency to Hunter, Donald Trump criticized the move on his Truth Social platform. Trump questioned whether Biden would also use his presidential pardon for the January 6th detainees, whom he referred to as "hostages."
Trump, who will succeed Biden as the President of the United States next month, has frequently labeled the Capitol rioters convicted after January 6, 2021, as "hostages."
In addition to Trump's response, other critics of Biden have also voiced their opinions on the presidential pardon. Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene called Biden "a liar and a hypocrite." Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of Trump, expressed his lack of surprise, stating that everyone knew Biden would take this action, but he did so only when it no longer had implications for his eligibility.