Andy Bloom: I’m glad Joe Biden pardoned Hunter
DOD Photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Carlos M. Vazquez II
Trump supporters are going to disagree with me, but I’m glad Joe Biden broke his promise and pardoned his son Hunter.
President Biden used the power vested in the presidency to grant his son one of the broadest full and unconditional pardons since Gerald Ford’s pardon of Richard Nixon.
Hunter is off the hook for all crimes he committed or may have committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024.
It’s unusual but not unprecedented to issue a pardon for crimes that may have been committed but are undiscovered and not yet charged.
Republicans and many Democrats have condemned the Hunter Biden pardon as an abuse of power. Joe Biden repeatedly promised he would not give his son a pardon. While it’s a broken promise and slimy, it is within his rights as president.
The power is in Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution, known as the Pardon Clause, which states: “The President shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.”
The president’s power is absolute in federal criminal cases. It does not apply to civil cases, state cases, or future crimes. In other words, while Joe Biden can pardon Hunter for crimes he committed from 2014 through the date of the pardon (12/1/24), it does not excuse him from future crimes. If Congress subpoenas Hunter to testify and he refuses, he would still be subject to a charge of contempt of Congress. Lying to Congress would still subject him to perjury charges.
The only shocking part of the pardon is that it surprised anybody. What parents wouldn’t do the same for their child if they had the power?
Despite the repeated promises, I believe Joe was always going to pardon Hunter. He would have pardoned Hunter if he had run, regardless of whether he won or lost. If Kamala had won, Joe still would have pardoned Hunter before leaving office. The election’s result may have changed the date, not the result. It’s the most plausible reason Joe left the campaign but didn’t resign from the office. He couldn’t pardon Hunter before the election. Doing so would have cost the Democrats, as it did Gerald Ford.
While I don’t object to Biden’s use of the pardon power, the lying and hypocrisy are troubling. Joe should have been honest all along and left himself the option to use the presidential pardon.
The Trump-haters lose their minds if he veers remotely from prior statements or exaggerates in the slightest. Joe Biden has been a lifelong liar. I’ve documented some of Biden’s lies on this site before.
Add the broken promise not to pardon Hunter to the list.
The other troubling part of the pardon is that Biden now sees the weaponization of the Justice Department. Take Hunter’s name and the specific charges out and Joe Biden sounds a lot like Donald Trump. The Trump-haters who have accused him of whining about the lawfare cases can apologize anytime.
President Biden claims that Hunter faced charges of tax evasion and making false statements when purchasing a firearm only because he is his son. It’s a patently ridiculous claim.
When purchasing a firearm from a licensed dealer, individuals must complete ATF Form 4473, which includes questions about criminal history and substance use. Providing false information on this form is a federal offense.
Ironically, Joe Biden was Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and played a pivotal role in passing the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993, which made Form 4473 a key part of background checks for gun purchases.
Lying on the form is a felony punishable by up to ten years in prison. A user of unlawful drugs in possession of a firearm is punishable by up to five years.
A June 2022 story by the Washington Post states the long odds of prosecution for lying on the form. The Post reported that “federal prosecutors received 478 referrals for lying on Form 4473 and filed 298 cases, according to data extracted from the U.S. attorneys’ case management system” in 2019 (the year Hunter purchased the gun). The story claims virtually identical numbers in 2018 and 2020.
That’s 297 more cases than were filed for what Alvin Bragg charged Trump with during the entire history of the United States.
Between 2018 and 2020, over 800 individuals whose fathers weren’t the President of the United States and presumably didn’t pardon them were charged for lying on the same form as Hunter Biden. Tens of thousands more were convicted of other firearm charges.
Tax evasion is even more common. During fiscal years 2021-23, The Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI) initiated over 2,500 criminal investigations into tax fraud and financial crimes annually with a conviction rate of nearly 90 percent.
The Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) included an additional $80 billion for the IRS. Most of it was for increased enforcement, including hiring an additional 87,000 employees. It was part of Biden’s plan to ensure “the rich pay their fair share.”
In 2021, IRS-CI conducted approximately 2,500 investigations, identifying more than $10 billion in revenue. By 2023, investigations increased to approximately 2,676 and $37.1 billion in revenue.
Over the past three years, over 7,700 others endured IRS-CI investigations, with about 90 percent convicted – just like Hunter Biden. Again, presumably, none of their fathers were President of the United States, and they didn’t receive a pardon.
Hopefully, the IRS-CI irony isn’t lost on Joe Biden.
Not a single Trump-hater has pointed to another person charged with what Alvin Bragg got Trump for, but there are thousands convicted of the same crimes Joe Biden claims were only brought against Hunter because he is his son.
Nonetheless, it’s better for Trump that Joe pardoned Hunter.
When Ford pardoned Nixon, he said, “Our long national nightmare is over.” He was referring to Watergate, of course.
Kamala Harris repeatedly said during the campaign, “It’s time to turn the page.” It is one of the few statements I agreed with her. It’s time to turn the page on the nightmare of the Biden-Harris years.
Trump was elected to reduce prices, deal with illegal immigration, and end wars. While some devoted MAGA devotees would take immense joy in prosecuting Biden, his family, members of his administration, and the people who led lawfare efforts against him, none of it will fix the problems Trump was elected to fix.
During the campaign, Trump said, “revenge will be my success.” Staying focused on the key reasons he was elected to fix will bring success to the Trump administration. Endless investigations will change the narrative and turn the focus from success to revenge.
By pardoning his son, Biden also makes it more difficult for Democrats to complain when Trump inevitably pardons some or all of the January 6th protestors.
Pardoning Hunter breaks the promise that Joe Biden repeatedly made. Why that surprises anybody is the true mystery. Biden has consistently lied throughout his life. The pardon may be slimy, but it’s also a power the Constitution gives to the president. It clears the path for the Trump administration to turn the page from the Biden nightmare and paves the way for what will surely be equally controversial pardons of the January 6th protestors.
Andy Bloom is President of Andy Bloom Communications. He specializes in media training and political communications. He has programmed legendary stations including WIP, WPHT, WYSP/Philadelphia, KLSX, Los Angeles, and WCCO Minneapolis. He was Vice President of Programming for Emmis International, Greater Media Inc., and Coleman Research. Andy also served as communications director for Rep. Michael R. Turner (R-Ohio). He can be reached by email at andy@andybloom.com or you can follow him on Twitter at @AndyBloomCom.
“Over the past three years, over 7,700 others endured IRS-CI investigations, with about 90 percent convicted – just like Hunter Biden. Again, presumably, none of their fathers were President of the United States, and they didn’t receive a pardon.” – Except for Jared Kushner’s father, Charles, who was pardoned in 2020 for Fraud and false statements (16 counts); retaliating against witness. Only to be announced as Ambassador to France this year.
To give additional context, Charles Kushner was pardoned in 2020 after having been convicted in 2005, served two years in prison, that followed by two years of supervised release and a $40,000 fine. The pardon was for that conviction only, not a blanket pardon for any crime that would have occurred over a nearly eleven year period of time.
Glad to see you’ve received the latest DNC talking point.
You’re comparing Biden’s son to Trump’s, daughter’s, father-in-law. What exactly is that familial relationship called?
You’re also comparing Hunter, who is getting pardoned after his conviction but before sentencing, and for all crimes, including those still unknown, to somebody who did 14 months in federal prison followed by time in a halfway house. Kushner finished paying his debt to society in 2006. Trump pardoned him 14 years later in 2020.
And what a reward, ambassador to France. The pay scale for U.S. ambassadors ranges from about $124,000 to $187,000 annually. Hunter made 10X that selling paintings this year, and how many millions selling access to his famous father – I mean consulting companies, like Burisma.
But otherwise, they are exactly the same.
You’re comparing Biden’s son to Trump’s, daughter’s, father-in-law. What exactly is that familial relationship called? – He is the father in law which makes him part of the family and would not have received this pardon had his son not married into the Ivanka.
“You’re also comparing Hunter, who is getting pardoned after his conviction but before sentencing, and for all crimes, including those still unknown, to somebody who did 14 months in federal prison followed by time in a halfway house. Kushner finished paying his debt to society in 2006. Trump pardoned him 14 years later in 2020.” – Being convicted of multiple felonies and serving your sentence does not justify a pardon, as many convicted felons will tell you.
“And what a reward, ambassador to France. The pay scale for U.S. ambassadors ranges from about $124,000 to $187,000 annually.” – Your confusing money with benefits. As a convicted felon Charles Kushner would have been unable to work in any job that required government licensing like finance, a pardon gets that back. Along with the high level contacts who he is going to meet that will benefit him in the future. Just like Jared did when he got 2 billion dollars from the Saudi’s 6 months after Trump left office.
” Hunter made 10X that selling paintings this year, and how many millions selling access to his famous father – I mean consulting companies, like Burisma.” And where is your proof he sold access? Republicans engaged in a 6 year witch hunt and their whistle blower did not provide proof of this. At no time did Hunter work for his father in the White House. On the other hand Jared, who did work in the White House, got 2 billion dollars from the Saudi’s 6 months after Trump left office.
Just once, I’d like to meet an honest lib who uses facts. During the election, any equivocation between Democrats and Trump was called “whataboutism.” The attempt to link Biden’s pardon of his son and Trump’s pardon of Charles Kushner is the lamest, weakest false equivalency or “whataboutism” anybody has ever made.
Point by point:
No, Donald Trump has no direct familial relationship with Charles Kushner. It is an indirect connection. I asked AI what the relationship between my daughter’s father-in-law and me would be called. Here’s the answer:
“Your daughter’s father-in-law has no direct familial relationship to you by blood or marriage. However, you are connected through your children, and the most common way to describe this relationship is “my daughter’s father-in-law” or simply as ‘in-laws through our children.’”
It’s a different stratosphere than pardoning his son.
You wrote, “Being convicted of multiple felonies and serving your sentence does not justify a pardon, as any convicted felons will tell you.”
You say a lot of dumb things, but put that at the top of the list.
The Office of the Pardon Attorney, part of the Justice Department, processes thousands of requests petitions and requests for clemency, pardons, commutations, and other forms of relief annually. Many felons receive relief before they have finished serving their time, others afterward. A few examples:
Obama pardoned Oscar Lopez Rivera, a Puerto Rican nationalist convicted of seditious conspiracy and several bombings. He commuted Chelsea Manning’s 35-year sentence after seven years. Manning leaked classified documents and was in prison for undermining national security.
Bill Clinton pardoned Marc Rich, who, in addition to tax evasion and fraud, traded with Iran during the hostage crisis. Rich’s wife made major donations to the Clinton Library. He pardoned Susan McDougal, a former business associate who was in prison for contempt of court after refusing to testify about Clinton’s involvement in the Whitewater scandal. He pardoned several members of FALN, the Puerto Rican nationalist group that Oscar Lopez Rivera belonged to. Their bombings killed six and injured many more – but even Clinton didn’t pardon Lopez-Rivera – that took Obama. Of course, Clinton also pardoned his half-brother Roger Clinton, who was convicted of drug charges.
Whether anybody agrees or disagrees with these decisions, they are all the president’s prerogative.
Felons have their rights restored by every president and go on to serve in government. The practice dates back to the nation’s earliest days: Matthew Lyon, a Vermont congressman convicted under the Sedition Act of 1798. Thomas Jefferson pardoned him. Lyon was promptly elected to Congress again.
Andrew Johnson pardoned Alexander Stephens (the VP of the Confederacy). Afterward, he was elected to the House of Representatives and then Governor of Georgia.
Others have been appointed to positions. George H.W. Bush pardoned Elliot Abrams, a former Assistant Secretary of State who pleaded guilty of contempt of Congress during Iran Contra. He served as Deputy National Security Advisor under George W. Bush.
It’s time to clarify the Jared Kushner – Saudi fable that Democrats love to tell. Unlike Hunter Biden, no money went into Jared Kushner’s personal bank account. It went to a private equity fund called Affinity Partners, established by Kushner. The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) invested the money into the fund. It wasn’t then dispersed into over 20 shell companies like Biden family money. There was no 10% for “the Big Guy,” who, under oath, Hunter admitted was Joe Biden.
Just as you claim nothing has been found after years of investigating Hunter, the Senate Finance Committee has investigated Affinity Partners for conflicts of interest. The investigation has included an examination of Kushner’s compensation. Affinity partners cooperated with the investigation. The investigation has turned up less than the investigations into Hunter Biden and the Biden family.
Please do us all a favor, before posting any more Trump-hating screeds. Do your homework and go further than left-wing Trump-hating sites.
As for claim that Joe Biden got a 10% cut, where is the proof? This was all based on the statements made by Tony Bobulinski;
“In statements and an interview with Fox News host Tucker Carlson (Carlson was fired because he was not credible), Bobulinski claimed Joe Biden was involved in one of his family’s business ventures with a Chinese oil company.
“Credible news organizations (including the Wall Street Journal) have found no evidence to corroborate Bobulinski’s claims about a role in the proposed venture for Joe Biden. Joe Biden’s financial documents show no indication of any income related to the venture.”
“In the mid-2010s, Hunter Biden was involved in multiple business dealings with Chinese companies. There is no evidence that his father played a role in any of them.” https://www.politifact.com/article/2020/oct/29/tony-bobulinski-hunter-biden-and-china-explainer/
Judah:
In a video, Biden did brag,
withholding cash for Ukraine, RED flag.
But Trump sought the truth,
For the sake of our youth,
Suburban moms even noticed, a snag!
They’re juggling the bills, feeling stressed,
While the leaders play games, quite a test.
So much money for war,
And with kids to care for,
They just want a leader who is best.
2. As a matter of objective fact… your statement: “Except for Jared Kushner’s father, Charles” is both ridiculous, and quite wrong.
Yes. Kushner was indeed a rather despicable character; but the simple fact is he was not charged anytime over the past 3 years.
And that was your actual statement: “over the past three years.” So, you decided to ignore that actual timeframe: “over the past 3 years” and instead you attempted to dismiss, distort, distract, and use dismay as your tools.
It is correct that about 20 years ago – not the past 3 – in the early 2000s, that Kushner was investigated for tax evasion, among other charges. This investigation ultimately led to his charges.
Did the CIA pay for Hunter Biden’s tax bill? It certainty seems like they did. Everything Biden, Burisma, and Ukraine was corrupt as double hockey sticks.
Sound like the Dem party talking point for those up for re-election is to quickly state (false) outrage for Biden’s decision as not to be burdened by it at the ballot drop box. Et tu, Brute?
I will release my taxes after I am elected.
No Americans will die from Covid.
Mexico will pay for the wall.
I will release a health plan better than the ACA in two weeks. Stated 15 times and Trump only has concepts and ideas four years later.
Negotiated directly with terrorists, released 5000 terrorists from prison, and invited the terrorist leadership to Camp David.
Where is the Republican outrage over these failures?
All your excuses for Biden’s outrageous broken promise not to pardon Hunter make you look foolish, not just to Trump supporters but to politically unaffiliated.
You’re such a Trump-hater and Democrat apologist that you can’t even condemn the sleazy Hunter pardon that many Democrats have, without “whataboutism.” Don’t you realize that sometimes Abraham Lincoln’s advice to remain silent and be thought a fool rather than open your mouth and remove all doubt,” is the best thing to do?
Oh no, the man from Minneapolis is going to school me using whataboutism. You’re right I would be more than glad to be offended by Biden’s pardoning of Hunter. Right after the man from Minneapolis is offended that Trump held onto dozens of classified files that he illegally removed from the White House and then lied to the FBI repeatedly about having them and returning them.
You’re such a Biden-hater and Maga apologist that you can’t even condemn any of the illegal acts many Republicans have committed. You really need to get over your Biden Derangement Syndrome, because all he does done to offend you is one pardon.
Offended by the article?
I guess you missed the point of this article, genius.
You seem to be offended by anyone who disagrees with you.