The decision, which was first reported by NBC News, is a reversal for the president, who repeatedly said he would not use his authority to pardon his son or commute his sentence.

Summary

President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden, reversing his prior stance against using executive clemency.

The pardon covers Hunter’s federal gun conviction and tax evasion guilty plea, sparking political controversy.

Biden cited political attacks and a “miscarriage of justice” as reasons for his decision, emphasizing his son’s recovery from addiction and the targeting of his family.

Critics argue the move undermines the judicial process, while supporters view it as within Biden’s constitutional powers.

This decision shields Hunter from potential prison time as Biden nears the end of his presidency.

  • nifty@lemmy.world
    5622·
    20 days ago

    Good. I hope the democrats play just as dirty and hard as the republicans going forward. We cannot be civil with barbarians.

    • pjwestin@lemmy.world
      60·
      20 days ago

      I would also like them to do that too, but I would prefer they do it for something other than nepotism.

      • nifty@lemmy.world
        2·
        20 days ago

        The left needs a populist movement like Bernie Sanders has been saying, the movements the left has seen prior to this point have tapered out because they didn’t get money backed support, and because they didn’t capture the hearts and mind of the comfortable democrat voter.

        It’s had been an uphill battle till now, but maybe things will be different going forward because the republicans are going to peel back a lot of hard won rights and freedoms, and also degrade quality of life and standards of living with their health, economic and education policies.

        • pjwestin@lemmy.world
          1·
          20 days ago

          …I don’t disagree, but I’m struggling to see how this is related to my comment. Are you replying to the right person?

    • squid_slime@lemm.ee
      172·
      20 days ago

      Its not exactly revolutionary action, him pardoning his son is no win for the working class

      • DarkFuture@lemmy.worldEnglish
        81·
        20 days ago

        him pardoning his son is no win for the working class

        Who cares?

        Anyone who has bothered to do their homework knows the Democrat party votes in favor of the working class WAY more often than Republicans. Hell, a few weeks before the election Trump and Musk did a televised interview where they jerked each other off about how much they hate unions and worker rights. Then working Americans voted them into power.

        Now stupid Americans are going to get the corruption they deserve.

        • squid_slime@lemm.ee
          26·
          20 days ago

          This is whataboutism, I am for neither blue or red, I hope they both burn. The only group I care for is the working class hense I care about nepotism within the political class.

          • DarkFuture@lemmy.worldEnglish
            6·
            20 days ago

            The only group I care for is the working class

            Then I’m sure you’ve done your homework and found out that Democrats historically vote in favor of the working class WAY more than Republicans, so you should vote Democrat if you care about the working class.

            Because I promise you, a 3rd party isn’t viable in the United States, so your options are Democrat or Republican.

            Not that you may have that option anymore going forward.

            • squid_slime@lemm.ee
              1·
              18 days ago

              I’m a revolutionary socialist. I give no fucks to what little bread crumbs the dems brush off of the table. We have seen “democratic” politics play out, the centrist shift to the right.

    • SeaJ@lemm.ee
      24·
      20 days ago

      Fuck that. Playing dirty in this instance does zilch to help you. Why the fuck would you support this? How does Hunter Biden being pardoned help you or anyone else at all? Democrats are okay to play dirty when it is done defending basic rights for Americans, not for the political elite. Hunter is a grifter and he should absolutely face the consequences.

      • DarkFuture@lemmy.worldEnglish
        72·
        20 days ago

        Why the fuck would you support this?

        Because I’m tired of watching the Dems be held to a higher standard and taking the high road and honoring decorum and losing to a corrupt as fuck party of traitors.

        Americans voted for corruption, so now they’re going to get it. Hopefully we get so fucking corrupt it actually makes us act like adults and vote more intelligently. Doubt it. We’re probably done for. But that’s our own fault.

        • SeaJ@lemm.ee
          2·
          20 days ago

          Again, I’m perfectly fine with Democrats playing dirty when it helps the country as a whole. They want to gerrymander to hell to get something like socialized health insurance passed or something like ranked choice voting? Have at it. This is just nepotism. It doesn’t help you. It doesn’t help the Democratic Party. Nobody should be for this.

          • DarkFuture@lemmy.worldEnglish
            41·
            20 days ago

            This is just nepotism. It doesn’t help you.

            Nepotism is standard in America. We don’t care enough to actually do anything about it. In fact, we just voted to make it worse. I’m aware it doesn’t help me. It helps a guy who was a solid president who doesn’t want his son to be in prison for non-violent crimes while a criminal president who openly stated he will target his political opponents sits in the Oval Office. Can’t blame him in the least. Especially since most presidents pardon people who support them at the end of their term. It’s normal in America.

            If we didn’t like it, we could vote more intelligently. But we don’t, and we won’t.

        • Cataphract@lemmy.ml
          12·
          20 days ago

          30% of eligible voters elected Trump, Democrats are allowed now to do what they want. Okie-dokie.

          Continue on with your “they took the high road” loss analysis. It’s been said so many times I don’t think anyone even knows what the “high road” is. If you could explain it to me I might be better informed.

      • nifty@lemmy.world
        42·
        20 days ago

        I mean, I agreed already that this action isn’t a win for voters. I am just sick of people crying about Biden doing this selfish thing for his family when Republicans are literally supporting white supremacy. There’s too much money support for the white supremacy movement, the left it needs own comparable financing against this.

        • SeaJ@lemm.ee
          3·
          20 days ago

          How does this combat that? Does this bring in funding to do that? It absolutely does not.

    • yarr@feddit.nlEnglish
      38·
      20 days ago

      But then the Democrats will BECOME the barbarians. Do not stoop to the level of sloppy populism – behave honorably and it will pay off in the long-term.

      • DarkFuture@lemmy.worldEnglish
        81·
        20 days ago

        behave honorably and it will pay off in the long-term.

        …HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH!!!

      • btaf45@lemmy.world
        3·
        20 days ago

        behave honorably and it will pay off in the long-term.

        We found out in 2024 that is not true. Voters are perfectly willing to vote for the most dishonorable candidate ever to run for office.

        • yarr@feddit.nlEnglish
          11·
          19 days ago

          2024 is not long term. This is not the last election.

            • yarr@feddit.nlEnglish
              11·
              19 days ago

              It failed in the short term. We still have the whole remainder of USA history (whatever that ends up being). Despite what parties will have you believe, there is a life outside of the run up to the election and inauguration. There is also a Democrat presence at lower levels, for example, in the state and county contexts. I would prefer it if the whole world doesn’t rush to emulate Trump in their approach to the world, as I don’t think it’s the best long term plan for our country.

              Faith in promises made by presidents is at an all time low and I don’t think we need to do more to further degrade that.

      • nifty@lemmy.world
        274·
        20 days ago

        Stop, please.

        I believe in the goodness in people more than is optimistically allowed, but even I am forced to acknowledge the existence of sociopaths and psychopaths who abuse the good will of innocents and well-meaning people alike.

        Sociopaths and psychopaths will always make fun of those they abuse, and they will use the morals and ethics of people against them.

        • Cleggory@lemmy.world
          320·
          20 days ago

          Sociopaths and psychopaths will always make fun of those they abuse, and they will use the morals and ethics of people simple hypocrites against them.

          You are a simple hypocrite.

      • frayedpickles@lemmy.cafeEnglish
        258·
        20 days ago

        Stop both sides bs, this is a guy pardoning his son’s addiction, not committing treason, attacking the capital, or selecting a cabinet of pedophiles. Have some fucking humanity, putibot.

      • rickyrigatoni@lemm.ee
        94·
        20 days ago

        Yeah but maybe the world would be better if everybody was blind. I can’t imagine a blind person using a gun effectively.

        • Cleggory@lemmy.world
          712·
          20 days ago

          At least neoliberals are finally admitting they have no moral high ground whatsoever.

          • wanderingmagus@lemm.ee
            42·
            20 days ago

            Why don’t you go over to Afghanistan and play nice with the Taliban, hmm? Or better yet, sit down for tea with Boko Haram. Oh, I know, why don’t you walk into North Korea, try entering one of the gulags? I’d love to see the look on your face. Fuck your holier-than-thou mentality. Moral high ground? Keep talking about that, when ISIS puts you in an orange jumpsuit.