Okay, so, like, OMG—President Joe Biden just pardoned his son Hunter, and it’s got literally everyone talking! On December 2, Biden announced this huge decision to clear Hunter of his federal charges, and let me tell you, the reactions are, like, all over the place.
Read the full pardon here.
The Pardon Tea
So, here’s the deal: Hunter was in trouble for buying a gun while he was, like, struggling with addiction (yikes!) and for not paying his taxes (also, yikes). Daddy Joe stepped in and gave a full pardon. Like, clean slate. Biden called it “one of the hardest choices I’ve ever had to make as a parent and a president.” He explained, “Justice must be tempered by humanity.” Aww, but also, like, wow. This is big.
Democrats Are Like, “You Do You, Joe!”
Most Democrats are totally vibing with this decision. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was all, “Hunter’s struggles with addiction are well-documented. The president’s choice reflects compassion for a son who has faced extraordinary challenges. This doesn’t negate accountability—it humanizes it.”
James Carville, who’s never one to hold back, clapped back at comparisons to Nixon’s pardon, saying, “This is not Watergate. Hunter Biden’s mistakes don’t equate to systemic corruption.” Another Democratic insider was quoted saying, “This might cost us at the polls, but hey, family first.”
GOP Is Having a Total Meltdown
Oh, the Republicans? They’re, like, LOSING it. House Speaker Mike Johnson called it “an outrageous abuse of power,” adding, “Joe Biden has once again placed his family’s interests above the rule of law.” Representative Jim Jordan tweeted, “This administration is rewriting justice for its own family. Americans deserve better.”
Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel threw shade, saying, “Americans see through the hypocrisy. Biden has just set a new low for ethical leadership.” Fox News went all-in, calling it a “stark reminder of double standards in justice”.
Legal Gurus Spill the Facts
Okay, so, like, the lawyers are totally split. Neal Katyal, a former acting solicitor general, was like, “The pardon power is absolute under the Constitution, but it must be exercised judiciously. While this is unprecedented, it is not illegal.”
Alan Dershowitz added, “From a purely legal standpoint, Biden’s pardon is within his rights. However, the optics are terrible, and it risks eroding public trust in impartial justice.”
Elie Honig, a former federal prosecutor, argued, “This decision opens a dangerous door for claims of double standards in the justice system. It’s a bold move, but one fraught with consequences”.
What’s Next?
Hunter still has other legal stuff going on, so this definitely isn’t the end of the story. Plus, everyone’s saying this will be the topic in 2024, like a juicy reality show subplot. Biden’s out here saying “no one is above the law,” but, like, people are side-eyeing hard.
Want the full tea? Check out the reporting from BBC, The Guardian, and NBC. Stay tuned, because this drama is far from over!
XOXO,
Valley Girl News
