Column: The backlash on the backlash against the Hunter Biden pardon
2 weeks, 3 days ago

Column: The backlash on the backlash against the Hunter Biden pardon

LA Times  

Days later I’m still seething that President Biden gave a “full and unconditional” pardon to his troublesome surviving son. With the pardon of Hunter Biden, who’d pleaded guilty to tax evasion and was separately convicted of lying about his drug addiction on a gun application, Joe Biden put his family ahead of his fealty to the animating pledge of his presidency: to restore governing norms and the rule of law after both were shredded by his predecessor, Donald Trump. But those Republicans weren’t elected, Trump was, and he’s the vengeful former and future president who vowed last year to “appoint a real special prosecutor to go after the most corrupt president in the history of the United States of America, Joe Biden, and the entire Biden crime family.” Given such explicit threats, and Trump’s first-term record of trying to politicize the Justice Department and FBI, why should Biden leave his son to Trump’s nonexistent mercies? Last year he produced a literal enemies list for Trump and separately said he’d prosecute Hunter Biden as a foreign agent, never mind past investigations that produced nothing. As former federal prosecutor and law professor Joyce Vance wrote recently, by way of justifying the pardon, Trump as president could have made Hunter Biden’s life in federal prison “extremely difficult.” And a Trumpian Justice Department could have redoubled efforts to charge him for foreign dealings going back to his father’s time as veep, as Patel has suggested.

History of this topic

MSNBC panel paints chilling portrait of threat to Trump enemies — even with pardons
4 days, 4 hours ago
'Witness protection program': Ex-conservative urges rush to stifle Trump's revenge vow
1 week ago
Bernie Sanders, Amy Klobuchar Both Vexed By Hunter Biden Pardon
1 week ago
Joe Biden’s son ducks questions on controversial pardon from his dad. Here’s what happened
1 week, 3 days ago
Biden’s ex-adviser publicly slams ‘timing, argument and rationale’ of Hunter’s pardon
Trending News
1 week, 4 days ago
Letters to the Editor: Adam Schiff’s admirable stance against preemptive pardons
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1 week, 4 days ago
Biden commutes 1,500 terms, grants 39 pardons in largest single-day clemency
1 week, 4 days ago
What's next in Biden pardons
1 week, 4 days ago
Only about 2 in 10 Americans approve of Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter, an AP-NORC poll finds
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1 week, 5 days ago
Biden pardon Trump? Are you kidding me?
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1 week, 5 days ago
Justice Department: Jan. 6 defendants who accept pardons will make ‘a confession of guilt’
1 week, 5 days ago
Former senior White House aide criticizes Hunter Biden pardon
1 week, 5 days ago
Unpardonable double standards
2 weeks ago
Donald Trump vows to pardon January 6 Capitol attack defendants on day one
Trending News
2 weeks ago
Fox News' media malfeasance on parade
2 weeks, 1 day ago
Letters to the Editor: Was Biden really lying when he said he wouldn’t pardon his son Hunter?
2 weeks, 1 day ago
Pete Hegseth’s mom emailed a letter to senators defending Trump’s defense secretary pick (her son). It’s going great!
2 weeks, 2 days ago
Circumstances have changed: White House on why Joe Biden pardoned son Hunter
2 weeks, 2 days ago
Joe Biden eyes preemptive pardons as Donald Trump plots revenge: Reports
2 weeks, 2 days ago
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2 weeks, 2 days ago
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2 weeks, 2 days ago
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54 years, 11 months ago
Biden has handed Trump a get-out-jail-free card – he will be delighted
2 weeks, 2 days ago
Biden considers preemptive pardons for officials, allies before Trump takes office
2 weeks, 3 days ago
Biden is considering preemptive pardons for officials and allies before Trump takes office
2 weeks, 3 days ago
White House Discussing Preemptive Pardons Of Trump's Enemies: Reports
Top News
2 weeks, 3 days ago
'It’s appropriate': Dem senator backs Biden pardon — for Trump
2 weeks, 3 days ago
Biden mulls preemptive pardons for US officials in Trump’s firing line
2 weeks, 3 days ago
Biden is considering preemptive pardons for officials and allies before Trump takes office
2 weeks, 3 days ago
Furious Dems threaten to withhold donations to Biden’s presidential library after Hunter’s pardon
2 weeks, 3 days ago
'Completely shocking': Political analyst stunned by Trump plan to wage war on critics
2 weeks, 4 days ago
Biden administration weighing preemptive pardons for those on Trump’s political radar: Report
2 weeks, 4 days ago
After son Hunter, US President Joe Biden plans preemptive pardon for Trump critics: Report
2 weeks, 4 days ago
‘Show Mercy’: Sen. Brian Schatz Urges Joe Biden To Free Leonard Peltier In Final Days
2 weeks, 4 days ago
Biden White House considering preemptive pardons for Trump’s perceived enemies
2 weeks, 4 days ago
Clemency groups use Hunter pardon to pressure Biden
2 weeks, 4 days ago
Biden weighs preemptive pardons for those on Trump's enemies list
Top News
2 weeks, 4 days ago
Yes, Joe should pardon them all — Trump included
2 weeks, 4 days ago
Biden aides mulling preemptive pardons for Dr. Fauci, Liz Cheney and host of Trump critics in his line of fire
2 weeks, 4 days ago
Key Trump insiders pushing president-elect to pardon ex-NSA contractor Snowden: report
2 weeks, 4 days ago
CNN's Kaitlan Collins dubs Joe Biden's pardon of son Hunter a ‘political time bomb’
2 weeks, 5 days ago
'A press release is not a pardon': Hunter Biden judge slams president's decision
2 weeks, 5 days ago
EXCLUSIVE: Senate Dems consider whether Biden should ‘clear the slate’ and pardon Trump
Trending News
2 weeks, 5 days ago
US President Biden’s growing worries spurred son’s pardon without delay
2 weeks, 5 days ago
'Unfairly prosecuted': Trump quotes Biden's pardon arguments in bid to quash hush money case
2 weeks, 5 days ago
Gavin Newsom tears into Biden for pardoning son Hunter: 'I took the president at his word'
2 weeks, 5 days ago
AOC calls for Biden to commute federal death sentences after Hunter Biden pardon
2 weeks, 5 days ago
Bill Clinton backs president’s pardon of Hunter Biden
2 weeks, 5 days ago
Biden White House Is Discussing Preemptive Pardons for Those in Trump’s Crosshairs
Trending News
2 weeks, 5 days ago

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