Democrats Vocally Oppose Biden’s Pardon: ‘No family should be above the law’
The president's spokesperson provided minimal insight into the reasons behind the president's decision to change his stance.
TroibNews 
On Monday, Democrats intensified their criticism of President Joe Biden following his decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden. They expressed concerns that the pardon signifies special treatment for his family and undermines public trust in the rule of law.
Just hours after the pardon was announced, Sen. Gary Peters from Michigan described the action as an “improper use of power.” Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, a key Democrat, stated that Biden “made the wrong decision. No family should be above the law.” Additionally, Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado remarked that the pardon “further erodes Americans’ faith that the justice system is fair and equal for all.”
The criticism highlights a divide within the party, as some Democrats are willing to publicly challenge the president’s decision at a time when the White House firmly defended it.
The White House maintained that Biden's choice to pardon his son did not compromise his credibility or the Justice Department's independence. During a flight on Air Force One to Luanda, Angola, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre noted that Biden didn't decide to move forward with the pardon until over the Thanksgiving weekend, emphasizing that he “wrestled” with the decision. She echoed Biden's own remarks from Sunday, pointing out that Hunter Biden was particularly targeted due to his familial connection to the president and suggesting that the political climate around the case influenced the decision.
Jean-Pierre asserted that even while believing in the justice system, Biden holds that his son faced undue political scrutiny. "Two things could be true: The president does believe in the justice system and the Department of Justice. And he also believes that his son was singled out politically,” she remarked.
However, Jean-Pierre’s explanations are unlikely to quell the concerns of critics who argue that the pardon contradicts Biden’s professed commitment to upholding the justice process, particularly given its timing, just weeks before he steps down from office.
First Lady Jill Biden also chimed in on Monday, affirming her support for the pardon, saying, "of course I support the pardon of my son," during an event where they unveiled the White House’s holiday decorations.
This pardon is among the broadest ever issued, offering Hunter protection from prosecution for any crimes he “has committed or may have committed” over an extensive span of nearly 11 years, specifically from January 1, 2014, to December 1, 2024.
Throughout his presidency, Biden has stressed the importance of rebuilding trust in governmental institutions and has aimed to maintain a degree of separation from the Justice Department, vowing to uphold its independence even regarding matters involving his son. In the past, he and his administration had consistently assured the public that a pardon for Hunter was off the table. Even after Donald Trump’s election victory, White House figures reiterated that Hunter would not receive a pardon.
When pressed for insights into Biden's change of heart, Jean-Pierre refrained from providing answers, instead referencing social media defenses from officials like former attorney general Eric Holder, who alleged that a different legal outcome would have occurred if Hunter Biden were named “Joe Smith.” She portrayed the pardon as a deeply personal decision by the president, suggesting he believed Americans would empathize with him as a father. Jean-Pierre also did not comment on whether Hunter discussed the matter with his father during their Thanksgiving gathering in Nantucket.
Biden's surprising decision faced immediate backlash from Republicans, who criticized him for perceived dishonesty and for damaging public trust in the judicial system. Speaker Mike Johnson expressed on X that “trust in our justice system has been almost irreparably damaged by the Bidens and their use and abuse of it.”
In contrast, Rep. Eric Swalwell lambasted the Republican critique as hypocritical, advising those who “defended the 34x felon, who committed sexual assault, stole national security documents, and tried running a coup on his country” to refrain from participating in discussions about the Hunter Biden pardon.
Jean-Pierre maintained that the president prioritizes honesty with the public, responding to a query regarding whether past statements might be perceived as misleading. She conveyed an expectation for the president to announce further pardons and clemency actions before leaving office, which is customary for outgoing administrations.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
Just hours after the pardon was announced, Sen. Gary Peters from Michigan described the action as an “improper use of power.” Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, a key Democrat, stated that Biden “made the wrong decision. No family should be above the law.” Additionally, Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado remarked that the pardon “further erodes Americans’ faith that the justice system is fair and equal for all.”
The criticism highlights a divide within the party, as some Democrats are willing to publicly challenge the president’s decision at a time when the White House firmly defended it.
The White House maintained that Biden's choice to pardon his son did not compromise his credibility or the Justice Department's independence. During a flight on Air Force One to Luanda, Angola, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre noted that Biden didn't decide to move forward with the pardon until over the Thanksgiving weekend, emphasizing that he “wrestled” with the decision. She echoed Biden's own remarks from Sunday, pointing out that Hunter Biden was particularly targeted due to his familial connection to the president and suggesting that the political climate around the case influenced the decision.
Jean-Pierre asserted that even while believing in the justice system, Biden holds that his son faced undue political scrutiny. "Two things could be true: The president does believe in the justice system and the Department of Justice. And he also believes that his son was singled out politically,” she remarked.
However, Jean-Pierre’s explanations are unlikely to quell the concerns of critics who argue that the pardon contradicts Biden’s professed commitment to upholding the justice process, particularly given its timing, just weeks before he steps down from office.
First Lady Jill Biden also chimed in on Monday, affirming her support for the pardon, saying, "of course I support the pardon of my son," during an event where they unveiled the White House’s holiday decorations.
This pardon is among the broadest ever issued, offering Hunter protection from prosecution for any crimes he “has committed or may have committed” over an extensive span of nearly 11 years, specifically from January 1, 2014, to December 1, 2024.
Throughout his presidency, Biden has stressed the importance of rebuilding trust in governmental institutions and has aimed to maintain a degree of separation from the Justice Department, vowing to uphold its independence even regarding matters involving his son. In the past, he and his administration had consistently assured the public that a pardon for Hunter was off the table. Even after Donald Trump’s election victory, White House figures reiterated that Hunter would not receive a pardon.
When pressed for insights into Biden's change of heart, Jean-Pierre refrained from providing answers, instead referencing social media defenses from officials like former attorney general Eric Holder, who alleged that a different legal outcome would have occurred if Hunter Biden were named “Joe Smith.” She portrayed the pardon as a deeply personal decision by the president, suggesting he believed Americans would empathize with him as a father. Jean-Pierre also did not comment on whether Hunter discussed the matter with his father during their Thanksgiving gathering in Nantucket.
Biden's surprising decision faced immediate backlash from Republicans, who criticized him for perceived dishonesty and for damaging public trust in the judicial system. Speaker Mike Johnson expressed on X that “trust in our justice system has been almost irreparably damaged by the Bidens and their use and abuse of it.”
In contrast, Rep. Eric Swalwell lambasted the Republican critique as hypocritical, advising those who “defended the 34x felon, who committed sexual assault, stole national security documents, and tried running a coup on his country” to refrain from participating in discussions about the Hunter Biden pardon.
Jean-Pierre maintained that the president prioritizes honesty with the public, responding to a query regarding whether past statements might be perceived as misleading. She conveyed an expectation for the president to announce further pardons and clemency actions before leaving office, which is customary for outgoing administrations.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
