Well, Joe Biden sure knows how to leave office with a bang—or rather, with a stack of preemptive pardons. Is that really a thing? Just minutes before making his grand exit on Monday, Biden decided to throw a legal lifeline to his siblings: James Biden, Sara Jones Biden, Valerie Biden Owens, John Owens, and Francis Biden. The White House says these pardons were totally justified because, apparently, the Biden family might face “politically motivated investigations” after Joe’s gone.
Biden, always the wordsmith, explained it like this: “I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics. But baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety, and financial security of targeted individuals and their families.” And just in case you missed the point, he added: “Even when individuals have done nothing wrong and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage their reputations and finances.”
I stopped listening after he said he believes in the rule of law.
Ah, yes. Because what’s more damaging to a reputation than being investigated? Maybe being preemptively pardoned before anyone even gets around to charging you?
But wait—there’s more! Biden wasn’t done handing out get-out-of-jail-free cards. Earlier that morning, he also pardoned Dr. Anthony Fauci, Gen. Mark Milley, and several folks tied to the January 6 investigation. Honestly, it was starting to feel like Oprah was running the Oval Office: You get a pardon! And you get a pardon! Everybody gets a pardon!
Now, let’s talk about the big one: Hunter Biden. The president had promised—over and over—that he wouldn’t get involved in his son’s legal troubles. But, as it turns out, promises are flexible when you’re packing up your presidency. Biden issued a blanket pardon for Hunter anyway, later explaining that he broke his vow because Hunter paid his back taxes. Oh, well, in that case. Nothing screams “justice” like throwing out all the charges because someone wrote a check to the IRS.
VISIT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELThis didn’t go unnoticed. Some folks defended Joe, saying it was just a dad looking out for his kid. But many others saw it as a blatant flip-flop. “Everyone looks stupid,” said Pod Save America co-host and former Obama aide Tommy Vietor. “Everyone looks like they are full of s—. And Republicans are going to use this to argue it was politics as usual when Democrats warned of Donald Trump‘s corruption or threat to the rule or the threat to democracy.”
And oh, the Republicans are loving this. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer had already been gunning for James Biden, requesting that Trump’s DOJ investigate him for allegedly lying to Congress. Back in June, House Republicans sent criminal referrals for both James and Hunter Biden, recommending charges for making false statements to Congress about key aspects of the impeachment inquiry of President Biden. But now? Well, good luck with that when the pardons have already cleared the way.
Biden’s last-minute pardon spree is shaping up to be one of the most controversial moves of his presidency. From family members to government insiders, no one was left behind. It’s like Biden decided that if he was leaving office, he’d leave with everyone’s slate wiped clean.
So there you have it: a presidential farewell tour that featured blanket pardons, political headaches, and enough controversy to keep the news cycle busy for weeks. Who knew that Biden’s legacy would come wrapped in a stack of pardons?
#BidenPardons #HunterBidenScandal #PresidentialControversy
