Biden’s sin wasn’t pardoning Hunter. It was letting him in the White House | Opinion
Joe Biden did what any father would do when he pardoned his son Hunter this weekend. No dad would want to see his son dragged off to prison on a guns, drugs and taxes rap, no matter how just the conviction.
Biden’s decision to break his vow not to pardon his son is even understandable given that Donald Trump’s Justice Department nominations have prioritized personal loyalty and a MAGA thirst for vengeance over professionalism. Who thinks Hunter Biden would get a fair shake under Trump?
Indeed, the day before Biden broke his promise not to pardon his son, Trump nominated Kash Patel to run the FBI, despite thin crime fighting credentials. Biden might have some reasonable concerns for his son given that Patel told Trump’s former political advisor Steve Bannon last year that a victorious Trump would go after his enemies if reelected. An FBI chief is perfectly placed to help Trump do just that. Hunter would be an easy target.
But that doesn’t mean Biden is blameless. If he wants to find someone responsible for the disastrous loss of trust in government that led the American people to turn to Donald Trump, he should look in the mirror. Biden’s relationships with his son and a shady younger brother are a model of what is wrong with government in Washington.
Both Hunter and James Biden have gotten rich trading on their relationship with and access to Joe, a powerful government official for decades as president, vice-president and Senate committee chairman. The history reeks of corruption.
Nobody thinks Hunter did anything of value to earn $11 million from Ukrainian gas giant Burisma, a company “accused of bribery,” and a Chinese businessman “accused of fraud” other than provide access to his father.
Joe Biden was no Washington innocent over those four years when his son was raking in the unearned boodle. He was the vice president of the United States, a man with five decades of Washington experience and at the peak of his powers when he met with his son’s clients, took phone calls with them and attended lavish dinners with them.
After partaking in the sleazy, if legal, Washington ritual making his family rich, Biden lied to the American public more than a dozen times when he denied that any such meetings, dinners or phone calls took place. Biden’s promise not to pardon his son was far from the first lie he told about his relationship with Hunter.
Joe Biden didn’t need an FBI background check to know his son’s character featured a penchant for call girls and crack and that he was convicted of a federal gun felony. Nevertheless Biden invited his son to become a White House regular and close advisor frequently appearing at government meetings representing his father in the days after the president’s disastrous debate performance.
Hunter was not the only sleazy barnacle on the Biden ship of state. His brother James Biden also used his brother’s power to rake in cash at one point working for a conglomerate as a deal-maker in its effort to make acquisitions in the heavily-regulated healthcare market before the firm collapsed amid accusations of $100 million Medicare fraud.
In an effort to keep his firm afloat during its financial death throes. James traveled to Middle East capitals seeking government investment that never came through, according to testimony from an executive involved.
I understand why Joe Biden pardoned his son. Before he leaves office, there will be a lot more pardons for those around Joe Biden. I am even willing to bet that President Joe will be among them. With Trump’s crude threats, I don’t blame them.
However, there is no one who can pardon the Biden family for the role they played in bringing Donald Trump to power. It is hard to make the case that Trump is a felon who should never set foot in the White House when you have already opened its doors to your own felon.
This story was originally published December 2, 2024 at 2:41 PM.