Donald Trump. New York Post/AP.
Donald Trump has said that he is open to granting a pardon to Hunter Biden, President Biden's son. New York Post. Trump said that the Biden family had treated him terribly and that Hunter Biden was a "bad boy". But he also said that it was "bad for the country" to prosecute him. Trump also cited the fact that he did not prosecute Hillary Clinton for the same reason after he won in 2016, despite thinking that she would have easily been convicted for her email scandal. Hunter Biden has been convicted on three federal gun crimes and is also facing charges for tax evasion. Joe Biden has said he would not pardon his son but it is widely believed that he will do so, or commute his sentence, before his term ends.
My Comment:
There are going to be some on the right that are going to be upset about this as the Hunter Biden conviction was a rare win for the right when it comes to criminal justice. Biden's crime was undeniable and he absolutely doesn't deserve a pardon.
So why is Trump open to doing this? I think there are a couple of reasons. I take him at his word that he thinks it would be bad for the country to go after his political rivals. He didn't do so when it came to Hillary Clinton and her case was about as solid as the Hunter Biden case.
I also think that it's a play for moderate voters that are taking the insane Democrat rhetoric about Trump being a Nazi that's going to go after his political rivals. If he says he's going to pardon Hunter Biden that should reassure those people that have bought into the noise. Trump has every reason to go after the Biden family and to not go after him is an act of grace and forgiveness, which is something that folks look for in a president.
It's also a signal to the Democrats that Trump won't hold a grudge against the Democrats when he takes power. How much power the Democrats will have after the election is an open question, but Trump probably wants to avoid the constant investigations and nonsense that partially derailed his first time. By pardoning Hunter Biden, Trump is saying to Democrats that he's willing to work with them despite the bad blood.
The pardon is also a nod to the gun rights community, which is actively challenging Hunter Biden's conviction. Gun rights supporters think that the drug question on the background check is obviously unconstitutional and want to get rid of it. That's where I am at, Hunter Biden is a scumbag and absolutely is guilty of what he was charged with, but it absolutely shouldn't be a crime in the first place. We also don't want to see these prosecutions get more common, right now despite pot being legal in many states, gun owners simply can't indulge because of the question on the ATF form 4473. Pardoning Hunter Biden is a way to stop that momentum before the Supreme Court rules on the case.
This may even be a reach out for Joe Biden personally. Biden could pardon Hunter Biden himself personally but it would be a bad look for him. By allowing Trump to do it, he would keep his legacy, such as it is. Plus I think that Biden is holding a grudge against Kamala Harris for kicking him out of the race and could be willing to work with Trump. Perhaps they made a deal? It would explain some of Biden's behavior, like putting on the MAGA hat or making sure that Kamala Harris is linked to Biden's more unpopular policies.
Regardless, I think there is a decent chance that it won't even be relevant. I have always said that Joe Biden was lying about giving Hunter Biden a pardon, though I figured it would probably be a commutation for his gun crime and a full pardon for his tax crime. I'd be very surprised if that doesn't happen.
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