Biden’s Son’s Pardon Could Help Trump’s Friends Later
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President Biden’s recent pardon of Hunter Biden could set a precedent for Donald Trump to expand presidential pardoning powers during his potential future administration, according to experts in the legal field.
“I do think this gives Trump greater leeway to exercise the pardon power in ways that he might otherwise have hesitated because it gives Trump more political cover to do what he wants,” Samuel Morison, an attorney who worked in the Office of the Pardon Attorney for 13 years, told Politico. “How can you say that the president can’t grant pardons to correct something that he believes is an injustice? Biden just did it.”
FYI, this pardon is NOT about a gun case.
It excuses ANY CRIMES HUNTER COMMITTED SINCE 2014!
Biden just indirectly admitted they have been involved in criminal enterprise for a long time, just like Trump has been trying to tell everyone.
Do NOT forget about the crowd… pic.twitter.com/JO6AuDQgNQ
— Graham Mitchell (@PeakingTruth) December 2, 2024
The extensive pardon absolves Hunter Biden of any federal violations between January 2014 and December 2024, encompassing his tax-related guilty plea and gun charge conviction. This broad clemency stands as the most comprehensive since Ford pardoned Nixon, surprising even the Justice Department’s pardoning office.
Legal authorities and former Trump allies suggest this action provides a template for future sweeping pardons. James Trusty, who previously served as Trump’s criminal defense attorney, noted this establishes acceptability for such pardons and could pave the way for Trump to pardon associates like Carlos De Oliveira and Walt Nauta in the classified documents case.
“To me, that’s kind of a no-brainer, and maybe out of an abundance of caution, he tracks the language of Hunter Biden’s very broad pardon,” Trusty said.
Trump’s previous pardons during his presidency benefited allies including Mike Flynn, Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, and Paul Manafort, though these were investigation-specific rather than covering extended timeframes.
Trump now has the green light to pardon all J6ers and no one can say a word pic.twitter.com/DjizpsGmko
— jay plemons (@jayplemons) December 2, 2024
The former president has pledged to pardon January 6 defendants during his 2024 campaign. House Select Committee testimony revealed Trump contemplated pardons for family members, staff, and himself before leaving office, though advisers discouraged these plans.
While sources indicate internal White House debates about offering Hunter Biden a sentence commutation instead of a full pardon, spokesperson Andrew Bates denied these claims.
The extensive pardon has drawn criticism from some Democratic lawmakers. “This was an improper use of power,” Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., commented. “It erodes trust in our government, and it emboldens others to bend justice to suit their interests.”
