WASHINGTON — Tensions erupted on Sunday after President Joe Biden made a highly controversial move: he pardoned his son, Hunter Biden. The decision immediately sparked outrage from Republican lawmakers and even drew criticism from some Democrats, making it a hot topic of debate.
Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for President-elect Donald Trump, wasted no time in reacting. Without naming names, he slammed the justice system as “weaponized” against Trump and promised that Trump, if elected, would fix it. Cheung’s statement painted the pardon as another sign of political bias, echoing frustrations many Republicans have expressed.
Trump himself chimed in on his platform, Truth Social, questioning whether Biden’s pardon of his son should also extend to those involved in the January 6 Capitol riot, who he called “hostages.” He described the pardon as a “miscarriage of justice” and an abuse of power.
Republicans in Congress didn’t hold back either. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., brought up past grievances, like the federal raid on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, accusing Biden of hypocrisy. “Joe Biden is a liar and a hypocrite, all the way to the end,” she said on X, formerly known as Twitter. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., went even further, calling Biden one of the “most corrupt presidents in American history.”
Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., who has been investigating the Biden family through the House Oversight Committee, accused the president of dodging accountability. “Rather than come clean about their decades of wrongdoing, President Biden and his family continue to avoid accountability,” he posted.
Some reactions, like that of Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, were more personal. “I’m shocked,” Grassley said on X, admitting that he believed Biden when he promised he wouldn’t pardon Hunter. “Shame on me.”
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., offered a slightly more measured take, saying Americans might understand a father wanting to protect his son but wouldn’t forgive Biden for lying about it before the election. “What they can’t forgive is Biden lying about it repeatedly,” Cotton tweeted.
While most of the backlash came from Republicans, a few Democrats also voiced disappointment. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said he sympathized with Biden as a father but thought the pardon set a bad example. “This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later presidents,” Polis warned.
Similarly, Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton from Arizona said, “This wasn’t a politically-motivated prosecution. Hunter committed felonies, and was convicted by a jury of his peers.” His criticism stood in stark contrast to other Democrats who have defended Hunter in the past.
Before the pardon was officially announced, Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland suggested that Biden might argue Hunter was a victim of “selective prosecution.” On CNN, Raskin explained that if someone is singled out unfairly due to political bias, a pardon could be justified. Biden’s official statement echoed this sentiment, claiming his son was being treated unfairly simply because of his last name.
Hunter Biden, who has been sober for over five years, was facing sentencing this month for federal gun charges and tax evasion. Biden argued that the charges were pursued aggressively only because of his family ties. “No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son — and that is wrong,” the president said.
This decision marks a major shift for Biden, who repeatedly said he wouldn’t pardon his son. NBC News first broke the story, reporting that Biden had struggled with the idea but ultimately concluded that his son had been unfairly targeted.
Hunter’s legal troubles stemmed from two separate cases. He had already pleaded guilty to tax evasion and was convicted on gun charges after a trial. Without the pardon, he was set to be sentenced later this month.
While the controversy continues to unfold, one thing is clear: this decision has struck a nerve across the political spectrum, and its impact will likely be felt for a long time. Whether viewed as an act of compassion or a misuse of presidential power, Biden’s decision to pardon his son has become yet another flashpoint in an already divided nation.
