The decision, which was first reported by NBC News, is a reversal for the president, who repeatedly said he would not use his authority to pardon his son or commute his sentence.
Summary
President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden, reversing his prior stance against using executive clemency.
The pardon covers Hunter’s federal gun conviction and tax evasion guilty plea, sparking political controversy.
Biden cited political attacks and a “miscarriage of justice” as reasons for his decision, emphasizing his son’s recovery from addiction and the targeting of his family.
Critics argue the move undermines the judicial process, while supporters view it as within Biden’s constitutional powers.
This decision shields Hunter from potential prison time as Biden nears the end of his presidency.
I never said that, I said that he has every right to act only out of self-interest for the remainder of his term and do nothing that would help us unworthy peons who didn't grovel at his feet when we had the chance. After all, and again I agree with you here, Trump certainly would behave no differently which gives Joe Biden and any future democrats every right to do the same and makes us entitled spoiled piggies for expecting anything else.
Are you? When did I say that Biden should do any of those things? I've said quite the opposite, we don't deserve better because Trump won the most votes. That gives Joe Biden a license to spend the last few days in power completely ignoring any expectations that voters, even those who voted Kamala, have for him. After all, if we had only voted harder then we wouldn't be in this mess, so he has a right to punish us accordingly. This is democracy and this is freedom. We are in agreement on all of this.
I'm sorry if you can't understand my sentiment, even though we are in complete agreement on all of this and I have been quite clear. Yes, absolutely, Biden should do everything to help Trump after insisting, repeatedly, for the past several years that Trump and his agenda are catastrophic threats to American democracy and safety. This will surely help public perception of democrats and their sincerity moving forward.
No, of course not. He should do the exact opposite. In addition to not doing anything to protect any of the marginalized groups who consistently vote Democrat, he should pose for photo ops with Trump, pardon his own family members, and do nothing to help the unworthy little piggies who couldn't be bothered to get other people to vote for him or for Kamala. The only circumstances in which we can expect Democrats to behave any better than Republicans is when it comes to respect for decorum, not actual policy.
I don't know where you're getting these ideas about my views, I've been in total agreement with you about these points this entire time. I'm just making the exact same argument you're making.
Edit - obvious sarcasm aside, Biden should do things like nominate judges for all those empty seats while the Dems still have the Senate. He should do things like direct the DEA to deschedule cannabis, a move that would be wildly popular with voters on both sides of the aisle and thus seems unlikely to be overturned. You know, helpful things that help people who weren't lucky enough to be born with the last name "Biden". He won't, though. And it's weird to just jump to January 6th. That's a weird thing to do.
Oh, no, I read your comment asking why Biden should care what Americans want, since so many of us voted Trump. And you're right! Biden is justifiably disappointed by us and, as a result, has every right as a civil servant to completely ignore us and act entirely out of self-interest until he is out of power. That's the social contract we make with our elected officials; we elect them and they enact their agenda provided we only do things they personally agree with. When we are naughty, they get to punish us by abandoning the people who got them in power. Basic civics.
I wouldn't change a thing because Joe Biden is obviously perfect. If someone disagrees, they must not be smart enough to understand. The solution to that, as all good liberals know, is to shame them until they vote better.