President Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter has drawn criticism from some of his fellow Democrats.
The move led to a tidal wave of GOP criticism on Sunday night, but as of late Monday morning a steady stream of Democrats had also expressed their unease.
“As a father, I understand. But as someone who wants people to believe in public service again, it’s a setback,” Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, wrote on X.
Hunter Biden The sweeping pardon covers all possible crimes between 2014 and December 2024. It came as he faced possible prison sentences on separate firearms and tax charges.
Lawmakers are harshly criticizing Biden’s decision to pardon HUNTER
Democrats in the House of Representatives, such as Reps. Greg Landsman and Greg Stanton (left), are pushing back on President Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter (center). (Getty Images)
The 82-year-old president accused Republicans of weaponizing the justice system against his son, who he said was “selectively and unfairly prosecuted.”
“I respect President Biden, but I think he got this wrong,” said Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz. “This was not a politically motivated prosecution. Hunter committed crimes and was convicted by a jury of his peers.”
Jared Polis, the Democratic governor of Colorado, also criticized the decision.
“While as a father I certainly understand Biden’s natural desire to help his son by pardoning him, I am disappointed that he has put his family before country. This is a bad precedent that could be abused by subsequent presidents and will unfortunately be tarnished. his reputation,” Polis said in a lengthy statement.
HUNTER BIDEN SAYS HIS ERRORS WERE ‘USED’ FOR POLITICAL SPORTS, HE WILL NEVER ACCEPT DATA
President Biden (left) announced the pardon on Sunday evening. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
“Hunter has taken the legal troubles he faced on himself, and one can sympathize with his struggle while also recognizing that no one is above the law, not a president and not the son of a president.”
Still, other Democratic allies of the president have pushed back.
“Look at the underlying facts and common DOJ practice, Governor,” former Attorney General Eric Holder, who served with Biden in the Obama administration, responded to Polis on X.
In a separate message, Holder wrote: “No (US Attorney) would have indicted this case given the underlying facts. After a five-year investigation, the discovered facts only made that clear. If his name had been Joe Smith, the resolution would have been: fundamental and fairer – a declination justified.”
Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Md., said he had “mixed opinions” about Biden’s pardon.
BIDEN GIVEN SON HUNTERS BIDEN BEFORE EXIT FROM OVAL OFFICE
Former Attorney General Eric Holder, left, pictured here with former President Obama, right, defended President Biden’s decision. (YURI GRIPAS/AFP via Getty Images)
Like Holder, Ivey argued that Hunter’s family name was a factor in the prosecutions against him, but he worried that this could set a precedent that Republicans could use in return.
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“Even though I don’t think Hunter Biden would have been prosecuted under these circumstances, at this point, a pardon will be used against, I think, Democrats who are pushing to defend the Justice Department from its politicization, which is certainly what President Trump is plan to do this,” Ivey told CNN Monday morning.
“I know there was a very strong sentiment in wanting to protect Hunter Biden from unfair prosecution. But this will be used against us as we fight the abuse coming from the Trump administration.”
