President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son has undermined an argument Democrats have made often over the past two years.
In response to Republican claims that the government was “weaponized” against them, such as by the Justice Department prosecuting Donald Trump, Democrats would point out that the administration also prosecuted Hunter Biden without any interference or criticism from the president.
“Joe Biden has never publicly questioned or challenged this prosecution,” Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said at a House Oversight Committee hearing last year, noting that Trump had criticized the Justice Department for persecuting his allies and then pardoned them before leaving office.
“President Biden’s traditional and scrupulous respect for the Justice Department’s independence stands in stark contrast to Trump’s spectacular lack of respect for the rule of law,” Raskin said.
During a House Judiciary Committee hearing in June, Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) noted that both Trump and Hunter Biden were recently on trial and that Trump insisted his trial was rigged, while President Biden said he would. accept the outcome of his son’s case. Biden also repeatedly said he would not pardon his son.
“How President Biden and Democrats responded to a guilty verdict in a case against the president’s son was strikingly different than what we saw in terms of the response from former President Trump, his family, his allies and acolytes,” Escobar said. “Democrats don’t attack the institutions that are important to our democracy, but unfortunately Republicans do. And it is devastating for the future of our democracy.”
At another Judiciary hearing that month with U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) noted approvingly the ongoing prosecution of Hunter Biden.
“One of the things that makes America great is that we are governed by the law, not by a cult of personality,” Lieu said. “And I want to thank you, Attorney General Garland, and the Department of Justice for applying the law without fear or favoritism. And as we sit here today, I note that the Department of Justice is currently prosecuting Hunter Biden in federal court.”
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) speaks on stage during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 19, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Delegates, politicians and supporters of the Democratic Party are in Chicago for the convention, which concludes with current Vice President Kamala Harris accepting her party’s presidential nomination. The DNC takes place from August 19-22. Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
In announcing Hunter Biden’s sweeping pardon on Sunday, the president for the first time criticized the criminal cases against his son, essentially labeling the prosecutions as a witch hunt.
“From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I watched my son be selectively and unjustly prosecuted,” Biden said Sunday.
The younger Biden faced jail time for illegally possessing a gun while addicted to drugs in 2018 and for failing to pay his taxes on time. He was awaiting sentencing this month after pleading guilty to the tax charges and being found guilty by a jury of the weapons charge. Experts filed the charges unusual because the gun was not used in a crime and because Hunter paid the taxes late with the help of a wealthy benefactor.
Hunter initially reached a plea deal with prosecutors, but that fell apart last year amid heavy criticism from Republicans in Congress, who were simultaneously pursuing an impeachment investigation alleging that the president participated in his son’s foreign affairs deals and in the pulled strings to prevent prosecutors from pursuing more serious cases. costs.
“The charges in his cases came only after several of my political opponents in Congress incited them to attack me and oppose my election,” Joe Biden wrote in his statement on the pardon. “I believe in the justice system, but as I struggle with this, I also believe that raw politics has infected this process and led to a miscarriage of justice.”
Trump often whined that his own case was a miscarriage of justice personally led by Biden. He faced federal charges over his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and hoarding government documents after leaving office.
Regarding Trump’s accusations, Biden and Democrats often said, “No one is above the law.” Since Sunday, Republicans have been happily throwing the line back in their faces.
“Do Democrats Still Think No One Is Above the Law?” Rep. Darrell Issa (D-California) said.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said the apparent exceptions to the “no one is above the law” mantra include Hunter Biden, “illegal aliens” and looting rioters.
Several Democrats also criticized the pardon, saying it would undermine faith in the rule of law, as well as their own arguments about the importance of democratic traditions and institutions.
“He promised he wouldn’t do this,” Rep. Jason Crow (D-Col.) said. told The New York Times. “I think it will make it more difficult for us in the future when we talk about upholding democracy.”
