EDITORIAL: False promises: How Hunter Biden’s pardon damages Democratic Party’s reputation
President Joseph R. Biden Jr. has shocked many, including members of his own party, by granting a pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted in two separate criminal cases. The decision comes despite the president's previous assurances that he would not use his executive power to offer clemency to his son.
A statement from the White House explains President Biden's decision to pardon his son, noting that the president reconsidered his stance after recognizing that individuals are rarely ever prosecuted for how they answer questions on a gun purchase form. The statement also emphasized that, in light of his son's struggles with addiction, late tax payments should not lead to criminal penalties.
From a father's perspective, it is understandable why President Biden chose to pardon his son. Hunter Biden was facing prison time, and if President-elect Donald J. Trump could realize his fantasy, he would push an extremely severe sentence on Hunter Biden.
While President Biden is being criticized for pardoning his son, Trump has also pardoned one of his family members. During Trump's first term, he pardoned Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Similarly, Charles Kushner was also convicted of tax evasion but was recently appointed by Trump to serve as the ambassador to France.
Even though Hunter Biden was not pardoned so that he could secure a position of power, his pardon is still a valid concern. The pardoning of Hunter Biden can easily backfire, as it fuels Trump's narrative that the judicial system is broken and must be fixed by placing his own loyalists in charge. Trump is already doing this through his recent cabinet picks.
Hunter Biden's pardon could also become a talking point for Trump to pardon those convicted of crimes such as the Capitol insurrectionists of Jan. 6, 2021, which he has already hinted at.
It is debatable whether Trump would have actually pardoned the insurrectionists, as he also tends to fall short of keeping his promises, but now he has a clear reason to seek revenge on President Biden.
Hunter Biden's pardon highlights the Democratic Party's lack of commitment to promises, which further damages its credibility. How are voters supposed to trust Democrats if they do not stick to their own principles?
Democrats' failure to stay true to their word may very well have been a key factor that contributed to their defeat in the last election. Vice President Kamala Harris's frequent flip-flopping on critical issues is a prime example of this and has only added to the party's reputation of inconsistency.
It is becoming increasingly difficult for voters to trust their leaders, especially when those leaders fail to deliver on their promises. This pattern suggests that the Democratic Party is struggling to stick to its values, leaving many Democrats worried about the party's ability to make a comeback in four years.
President Biden should prioritize pardons for individuals who have been wrongfully convicted or are serving lengthy jail sentences for nonviolent crimes. The decision to pardon his son, while others face much harsher consequences, reflects a disregard for those who have been unfairly impacted by the justice system.
It is a trend for presidents to pardon more people toward the end of their terms, making this the ideal moment for President Biden to take significant steps toward ending mass incarceration.
64 members of the House of Representatives have already signed a letter to President Biden asking him to help people on death row, those with unjust sentencing and women who have faced sentencing for defending themselves against their abusers.
Before rescuing his son, President Biden issued 25 other pardons. During his presidency, Trump granted 143 pardons. Before Trump, former President Barack Obama issued 212 pardons. President Biden did not use his four years of office to issue enough pardons to those who needed them.
Going forward, presidents should refrain from using their pardon power to benefit family members or political allies at the expense of those who truly need it. We can only hope that President Biden has not lost sight of his commitment to justice and will use his remaining time in office to grant pardons to those who deserve them most.
The Daily Targum's editorials represent the views of the majority of the 156th editorial board. Columns, cartoons and letters do not necessarily reflect the views of the Targum Publishing Company or its staff.
