Staff Reports
The recent pardon issued by President Biden for his son, Hunter, raises eyebrows and questions about the potential consequences of shielding the wayward offspring from the long arm of the law. While it was ostensibly done to protect Hunter from the looming specter of a criminal record, Biden may have inadvertently tied his own hands—a classic case of shooting himself in the foot.
Here’s a delightful twist: if Hunter can no longer be charged with crimes thanks to the pardon, he might lose his ability to plead the Fifth Amendment. This legal safeguard, intended to protect against self-incrimination, may become useless if Hunter has nothing to hide under federal law. Suddenly, we might find ourselves at the edge of a Congressional hearing where Hunter’s testimony could expose all sorts of unsavory dealings with foreign entities during his father’s vice presidency. One can only imagine the inscrutable look on Biden’s face when he realized he may have inadvertently opened a Pandora’s Box.
Exactly but guess Joe is not so smart because now Hunter can be called to testify and if he lies well there goes his pardon because then he can be charged with perjury and should be! https://t.co/igYB7hbZrs
— Barbra Oconnor (@BarbraO72381401) December 5, 2024
Naturally, the Republican Party is already rubbing its hands together in glee at the chance to turn this legal misstep into political gold. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has made it clear that conversations are underway to fully investigate the implications of Biden’s decision. The new Attorney General nominee, Pam Bondi, may soon find herself knee-deep in evidence that the Biden family would prefer to stay buried. With the White House reportedly obstructing evidence requests left and right, it seems more like a game of hide-and-seek than a legitimate governance effort.
To add more fuel to the fire, U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika has dropped the gun case against Hunter, yet the fate of his tax evasion charges remains uncertain, pending decisions from Judge Mark Scarsi. It’s truly remarkable how the judicial system suddenly becomes a hot potato when it involves the politically connected. One wonders if this pattern of judicial leniency might be extended if it were a Republican family on the receiving end.
Ironically, Hunter Biden’s pardon only extends to federal charges, leaving state ones intact. This means that, while he might have dodged a bullet federally, he could still be in hot water at the state level. The President might even find himself in a position where he needs to pardon not just Hunter, but the entire Biden clan, including himself, to completely erase any legal jeopardy surrounding their dubious financial adventures. If the Republicans play this right, they may just have the chance to put a stop to this blatant use of political power for personal gain, rather than letting it slide as yet another family affair in D.C. That would be a classic miscalculation if they simply let bygones be bygones when the Bidens eventually take their exit from the spotlight.
