President Biden still says he “meant what I said” when he vowed not to pardon his son Hunter, admitting in a new interview that he hopes he's not setting an example for future presidents to “use” the power of forgiveness is bad.
The the president promised repeatedly not pardoning his son before he changed his ways last month and granting Hunter amnesty for all crimes against the United States that he committed or may commit from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024. It also exempted him from sentencing on federal tax and felony gun charges.
The move made him even more angry some of Biden's supporters after being praised by Democrats and the press for upholding the integrity of the justice system by not using his influence to help his family.
By going out interview with USA Today published on Wednesday, he defended one of his most controversial actions in office, as he appeared, according to the article, to forget the time of his son's actions.
US President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden embrace on stage at the end of the first day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on August 19, 2024. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP) (Photo by (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
HUNTER BIDEN PARDON: THE MEDIA ATTACKS A FRIEND OF TRUST THROUGH THE SERVICE OF A BROKEN PROMISE.
“When we talk about forgiveness, any parent can understand why you would want to protect your son,” USA Today's Susan Page told Biden. “Do you have any concerns that your pardon of Hunter sets a precedent for future presidents? That it might be open to abuse?”
“I have no hope, because I meant what I said when I was asked if I would forgive my son,” Biden said. “But then I found out two things. First, that he had paid all his taxes. He paid them late. He was struggling with a drug problem. And he He's been around for about six years, back in '80, I'm sorry, in 2000 and… That was a long time ago.
“And there were hundreds of people with only 3, 4, or 500,000 dollars that were still there, going on in the community. He paid all his taxes. He paid his taxes. late. He was late. He was in court at the time of the plea agreement.”
FILE – President Joe Biden, wearing a Team USA jacket and accompanied by his son Hunter Biden, head to Marine One on the South Lake of the White House in Washington, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
HUNTER BIDEN SAYS HIS MISTAKES HAVE BEEN USED FOR POLITICAL GAMES, HE SAYS HE WILL NOT APOLOGIZE.
Biden said he entered because he thought that his son was under two conditions. One of Hunter's convictions was for purchasing a gun in 2018 and lying on a form by saying he was not using or addicted to drugs at the time.
“And the second thing I found out is that when you buy a gun, at that point, you have to sign a form if you're under the influence of anything,” the president told USA Today. “Actually, I don't even know if they went straight to signing the form. But the point was, no one was tried for that. No one. And they could put him in jail for X number of years for that. He had it for two days, no bullets, no movement, and no one was tested.
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Biden added in the interview that he was considering an early pardon for Trump's enemies, such as Anthony Fauci and Rep. Former Republican Liz Cheney.
President Biden said he is considering an early pardon before President-elect Donald Trump picks key areas. (Getty Images)
“It depends a little bit on who you put in what position,” he said. President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Kash Patel to lead the FBI and Pam Bondi to lead the Justice Department, though they will need to be confirmed by the Senate.
Biden's pardon of Hunter was defended in some quarters as a natural move from someone protecting his family, but many in the spotlight derided it as a potentially damaging move for the White House. and the legacy of the president.
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“Everybody looks stupid,” the Pod Save America co-star saidx-Obama aide Tommy Vietor said at that time. “Everybody looks like they're full of s—. And Republicans will use this to argue that it was politics as usual when Democrats warn about Trump's corruption or the threat to the administration or a threat to democracy.”
Biden would not have been so open about not forgiving his son last year. Asked by ABC's David Muir when he judged it, he replied, “Yes.