Hunter Biden Pardon

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 12/2/24 at 9:54am

Well, it seems good old President Biden lied to the American people when he pardoned his son Hunter Biden yesterday. Countless times he said he would not pardon his son and let the justice system do their thing -lol. So how do you liberals spin this situation. Maybe, you say poor Hunter was persecuted because of his father and deserved the pardon -lmao. Another excuse will be to say Hunter was just a poor unfortunate guy who had a drug problem, and the pardon is showing him mercy - ha ha. There is no doubt in my mind most liberals will overlook this story and have no issue with it. 

Personally, I know a POTUS can pardon anybody and there have really been some dreadful pardons by POTUS of both parties. I do think POTUS should not be allowed to pardon a member of their immediate family.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 12/2/24 at 12:28pm

It’s not a great look, but I don’t blame Biden. You probably don’t either, Zeppie, if you consider it purely from a father/son perspective. Hunter broke the law, sure, but let’s not pretend that politics was not involved. I really don’t blame the Bidens for losing faith in the system, and a pardon is genuinely the best way for justice to be served. Hunter has been punished enough.

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 12/2/24 at 2:33pm

"It’s not a great look, but I don’t blame Biden. You probably don’t either, Zeppie, if you consider it purely from a father/son perspective. Hunter broke the law, sure, but let’s not pretend that politics was not involved. I really don’t blame the Bidens for losing faith in the system, and a pardon is genuinely the best way for justice to be served. Hunter has been punished enough."

I totally understand it from Father/Son perspective, that is not the issue to me. The main issue is Biden repeatedly said he would not pardon his son and let the justice system do its thing. The media fell all over themselves saying how noble and wonderful Biden was for not pardoning him. The cynic in me Jay says you would not be so understanding if Trump has pardoned Don Jr for something criminally wrong, he did. Please tell me Jay how Hunter has suffered. He has been pardoned before sentencing, no time in jail or punishment. He has made millions of dollars by using his father's name and influence. He also provided money for his dad (the big guy) to make sure he lived even more comfortably than normal for a man of his stature.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/2/24 at 8:47pm

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 12/2/24 at 9:29pm

Thank you for sharing your perspective—it’s clear this is an issue you feel strongly about. It’s true that the presidential pardon power, as outlined in the Constitution, is incredibly broad and has been a source of both debate and controversy over the years. Presidents from both parties have made clemency decisions that sparked intense public discussion, and your suggestion about limiting pardons for immediate family members is one that’s been raised before.

 

However, making such a change to presidential pardon powers would require a constitutional amendment. The pardon power is granted under Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, and altering it would involve a lengthy and challenging process. It would need either a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate, or a constitutional convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures, followed by ratification from three-fourths of the states.

 

Your concerns reflect a sentiment shared by many who feel the pardon power should have more limitations to prevent perceived abuses. While others might argue that the power is intentionally broad to allow for mercy and justice in exceptional cases, it’s certainly worth discussing how we balance those goals with ensuring public trust in the system.

During his first term (2017–2021), President Donald Trump granted clemency to 237 individuals, including pardons and commutations. Many of these actions were notable due to the recipients’ personal or political connections to Trump, as well as the nature of their offenses. Below is a list of some prominent individuals who received pardons, along with descriptions of their offenses:

    1.    Joe Arpaio (August 25, 2017): The former sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, was convicted of criminal contempt for defying a court order to stop racial profiling practices.

    2.    Dinesh D’Souza (May 31, 2018): A conservative commentator and filmmaker, D’Souza was convicted of making illegal campaign contributions.

    3.    Michael Behenna (May 6, 2019): A former U.S. Army lieutenant convicted of unpremeditated murder in the killing of an Iraqi prisoner.

    4.    Conrad Black (May 15, 2019): A former media mogul convicted of fraud and obstruction of justice.

    5.    Patrick Nolan (May 15, 2019): A former California state legislator convicted of racketeering.

    6.    Michael Tedesco (July 29, 2019): Convicted of drug trafficking and fraud.

    7.    Rod Blagojevich (February 18, 2020): The former governor of Illinois was convicted of corruption charges, including attempting to sell Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat.

    8.    Bernard Kerik (February 18, 2020): The former New York City police commissioner was convicted of tax fraud and lying to officials.

    9.    Michael Milken (February 18, 2020): A financier known as the “junk bond king,” Milken was convicted of securities fraud.

    10.    Eddie DeBartolo Jr. (February 18, 2020): The former owner of the San Francisco 49ers pleaded guilty in a gambling fraud scandal.

    11.    Angela Stanton (February 18, 2020): Convicted of conspiracy to transport stolen vehicles.

    12.    David Safavian (February 18, 2020): A former government official convicted in connection with the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal.

    13.    Paul Pogue (February 18, 2020): A construction company owner convicted of tax fraud.

    14.    Kristian Saucier (March 9, 2018): A former Navy sailor convicted of unauthorized retention of defense information.

    15.    Alice Marie Johnson (June 6, 2018): A first-time nonviolent drug offender who received a life sentence; her case gained widespread attention and advocacy.

    16.    Dwight and Steven Hammond (July 10, 2018): Ranchers convicted of arson on federal lands, whose sentences sparked the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupation.

    17.    Mathew Golsteyn (November 15, 2019): A former Army officer accused of murdering an unarmed Afghan man.

    18.    Clint Lorance (November 15, 2019): A former Army lieutenant convicted of second-degree murder for ordering his soldiers to fire on unarmed Afghan men.

    19.    Michael Flynn (November 25, 2020): Trump’s former National Security Advisor, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with the Russian ambassador.

    20.    George Papadopoulos (December 22, 2020): A former Trump campaign advisor who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with individuals tied to Russia.

    21.    Alex van der Zwaan (December 22, 2020): A Dutch lawyer who pleaded guilty to lying to investigators in the Mueller probe.

    22.    Paul Manafort (December 23, 2020): Trump’s former campaign chairman, convicted of tax and bank fraud related to his work in Ukraine.

    23.    Roger Stone (December 23, 2020): A longtime Trump associate convicted of lying to Congress, witness tampering, and obstruction in the Russia investigation.

    24.    Charles Kushner (December 23, 2020): A real estate developer and father of Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, convicted of tax evasion, witness retaliation, and making false statements to the Federal Election Commission.

    25.    Stephen K. Bannon (January 19, 2021): Trump’s former chief strategist, charged with fraud related to a fundraising campaign for a border wall.

    26.    Lil Wayne (Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.) (January 19, 2021): The rapper pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

    27.    Kodak Black (Bill K. Kapri) (January 19, 2021): The rapper was serving a sentence for falsifying information on federal forms to buy firearms.

 

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 12/3/24 at 10:39am

ACL20006 - In my post I said POTUS from both parties have made horrible choices with pardons. I am sure with a little research I could find some pretty awful ones by Clinton and Obama. As I said, my main issue was that he kept saying he would not pardon his son, and then did exactly the opposite. The media fell all over themselves praising Biden for letting the justice system play out with Hunter - ha ha. Question for you, how would you feel if Trump ever pardoned Don Jr for something he did? My gut feeling is you would be expressing outrage. Sorry son-in law's father is not the same as your own son IMO.

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 12/3/24 at 10:53am

"During his first term (2017–2021), President Donald Trump granted clemency to 237 individuals, including pardons and commutations. Many of these actions were notable due to the recipients’ personal or political connections to Trump, as well as the nature of their offenses. Below is a list of some prominent individuals who received pardons, along with descriptions of their offenses"

Ok. Thanks for taking time to do research. That being said, the list does not show whether these pardoned people already spent time in jail and or paid fine. Hunter will get off not being punished one bit while I am willing to bet a bunch of people listed did some jail time. I will say one more time, most pardons by POTUS from both parties are generally pretty shaky.

There was no doubt with most Republicans that Biden would pardon Hunter. I think they are more annoyed that he just lied about it constantly. He could have easily sidestepped the question with some vague answer, most politicians are very good at doing that type of thing. Constitutional amendment change is not going to happen, so it is what it is -lol.

 

[kdogg36]

Posted: 12/3/24 at 11:36am

Zeppie2022 said: ""Constitutional amendment change is not going to happen, so it is what it is."

I agree it's very unlikely we'll ever see another successful constitutional amendment in our lifetimes, but if there's one that could garner the near-universal support necessary for that to happen, it might be this one. (Another possibility, I think, is an amendment allowing governors to fill vacant House seats, but I don't think that's on anyone's to-do list.)

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 12/4/24 at 10:52am

Nobody who voted for Trump cares about lies. If they claim otherwise, they are a hypocrite. Russian media is laughing at us and saying Trump's cabinet will dismantle America brick by brick. This pardon is the least of my worries. If you don't like presidential pardons take it up with the constitution. 

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 12/4/24 at 11:31pm

Why give a **** about Norms when it's done nothing but bite the man in the ass every single time he tried to maintain them. Trump has no concern of norms or legality and the country handed him power decidedly so... this is what the American People have said they wanted. If this is the most Biden does with it before he leaves, they should be so lucky. 

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 12/5/24 at 9:31am

"Trump's cabinet will dismantle America brick by brick. This pardon is the least of my worries. If you don't like presidential pardons take it up with the constitution. "

You do remember Trump was POTUS from 2016-2020? Did his cabinet dismantle America? It is 2024 and America is still standing. People are annoyed that Biden lied about it for months. I don't think there would have been as much "outrage" if he just admitted he was going to pardon him. Actually, plenty of people were sympathetic for Biden as a father helping his son.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 12/5/24 at 5:10pm

It’s not a lie if he genuinely meant it when he made that promise. Perhaps the election of a vengeful lunatic in the meantime made him re-think. Understandably so.

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 12/5/24 at 7:07pm

"It’s not a lie if he genuinely meant it when he made that promise. Perhaps the election of a vengeful lunatic in the meantime made him re-think. Understandably so."

Jay, it is comments like this that give liberals a bad name. You are just enabling Biden and anybody who is even tiny bit fair minded knows he was saying it to help himself and Harris for the election. Biden saying he would pardon Hunter would have been election topic that might have hurt the Democrats. See below from the Boston Herald, thought it was very good part of article.

Boston Herald

"How refreshingly honest it would have been if Biden, on the way out the door, had simply said, “Hunter made mistakes. He has atoned for them. He has changed, has a family and is free of drugs. He is my son. I love him. I lost one son and do not want to lose another. So, I am pardoning him.”

People may not have liked it, but they would have understood it and even sympathized with the president.

Instead, he lied to the American people, pretending that Hunter Biden was targeted simply because he was Joe Biden’s son, and not the rogue, crack-addicted deadbeat who roamed the world shaking down countries for the Biden family’s gain."

 

 

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 12/6/24 at 8:23am

Zeppie2022 said: ""Trump's cabinet will dismantle America brick by brick. This pardon is the least of my worries. If you don't like presidential pardons take it up with the constitution. "

You do remember Trump was POTUS from 2016-2020? Did his cabinet dismantle America? It is 2024 and America is still standing.People are annoyed that Biden lied about it for months. I don't think there would have been as much "outrage" if he just admitted he was going to pardon him. Actually, plenty of people were sympathetic for Biden as a father helping his son."

That's not my statement, it is those of Russian state media. If you remember during his first term Trump had a lot of normal conservatives in his cabinet; that "dismantle brick by brick" is in reference to the current dangerous loons he wants this time around; I'm no fan of Mitch McConnell to say the least but at least he sees the danger in these cabinet picks as well and I respect him for that. 

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 12/6/24 at 9:53am

"Trump had a lot of normal conservatives in his cabinet; that "dismantle brick by brick" is in reference to the current dangerous loons he wants this time around; I'm no fan of Mitch McConnell to say the least but at least he sees the danger in these cabinet picks as well and I respect him for that. "

Gaetz is gone and replaced with qualified woman (Pam Bondi). Now Trump needs to replace RFK Jr and Pete Hegseth. Doubt RFK Jr will go but think pretty good shot Hegseth will not get confirmed. Trump floated the idea of DeSantis replacing Hegseth.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 12/6/24 at 10:12am

Zeppie2022 said: ""It’s not a lie if he genuinely meant it when he made that promise. Perhaps the election of a vengeful lunatic in the meantime made him re-think. Understandably so."

Jay, it is comments like this that give liberals a bad name. You are just enabling Biden and anybody who is even tiny bit fair minded knows he was saying it to help himself and Harris for the election. Biden saying he would pardon Hunter would have been election topic that might have hurt the Democrats. See below from the Boston Herald, thought it was very good part of article.

Boston Herald

"How refreshingly honest it would have been if Biden, on the way out the door, had simply said, “Hunter made mistakes. He has atoned for them. He has changed, has a family and is free of drugs. He is my son. I love him. I lost one son and do not want to lose another. So, I am pardoning him.”

People may not have liked it, but they would have understood it and even sympathized with the president.

Instead, he lied to the American people, pretending that Hunter Biden was targeted simply because he was Joe Biden’s son, and not the rogue, crack-addicted deadbeat who roamed the world shaking down countries for the Biden family’s gain."



"

You can keep saying that he lied, but you have no proof that he did in fact lie. He Could have just simply changed his mind , which people do.  You can say that you feel like he lied, but you have no definitive proof to make that claim. I assume he didn't intend to pardon Hunter until after Trump won, before that. He assumed he would either win the presidency again or Kamala would win. And that did not happen, and he realized Trump was going to take office and has made it clear that he has an enemies list, and Trump and the Republican party have gone after the Biden family relentlessly, he decided that he would pardon Hunter instead of throwing him to the wolves. 

 

I will also say that anybody who voted for Trump can't say anything at all about pardoning, since They elected Trump and basically voted for him to be pardoned, since now that he is President, any consequences or charges that he would face now go away. Any of the Trump voters who speak out against this are hypocrites.

Updated On: 12/6/24 at 10:12 AM

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 12/6/24 at 11:17am

"You can keep saying that he lied, but you have no proof that he did in fact lie. He Could have just simply changed his mind , which people do. You can say that you feel like he lied, but you have no definitive proof to make that claim. I assume he didn't intend to pardon Hunter until after Trump won, before that. He assumed he would either win the presidency again or Kamala would win."

Ok, Biden changed his mind - lol. I am good with that as long as you judge Republicans you don't like with the same criteria. They did not lie; they just changed their mind.

"I will also say that anybody who voted for Trump can't say anything at all about pardoning, since They elected Trump and basically voted for him to be pardoned, since now that he is President, any consequences or charges that he would face now go away. Any of the Trump voters who speak out against this are hypocrites."

I have said several times in this thread I created that the POTUS of both parties have made some pretty shady pardons. I made issue of this one because it involved the son of the current POTUS. Never before has a pardon been given to an immediate member of the family of the POTUS. The other main point I made was that Biden and his press secretary repeatedly said Hunter would not be pardoned. You say he changed his mind; many others would say he lied. Nobody knows for sure except Biden and his family.

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 12/6/24 at 11:55am

Zeppie2022 said: ""Trump had a lot of normal conservatives in his cabinet; that "dismantle brick by brick" is in reference to the current dangerous loons he wants this time around; I'm no fan of Mitch McConnell to say the least but at least he sees the danger in these cabinet picks as well and I respect him for that. "

Gaetz is gone and replaced with qualified woman (Pam Bondi). Now Trump needs to replace RFK Jr and Pete Hegseth. Doubt RFK Jr will go but think pretty good shot Hegseth will not get confirmed. Trump floated the idea of DeSantis replacing Hegseth."

These are hopeful developments. I'll take whatever good news I can get these days! 

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 12/8/24 at 12:09pm

I’m curious how this will play out. President-elect Donald J. Trump, in an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, said he wouldn’t direct his administration to seek retribution against political enemies but stated he’d like to see them punished. He specifically mentioned that members of the congressional committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack should go to prison.
 

Additionally, he said he’d act “very quickly” to pardon those convicted for their involvement in the riot, which raises questions about the potential consequences of releasing individuals convicted of violent crimes. How might this decision impact public safety and the justice system?

[South Florida]

Posted: 12/12/24 at 7:23pm

Skanks, all of them, but nobody skankier and more crooked than the Dump. Clearly the voting public wanted this. 

[South Florida]

Posted: 12/12/24 at 7:25pm

Lavieboheme, can you imagine all the money in pardons?

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 12/15/24 at 8:13am

Feeling disappointed and disillusioned today. We were told the first day in office would be about helping everyday Americans—lowering grocery prices, addressing real issues.
 

But instead? Pardoning January 6 rioters takes center stage, with promises to make it happen in the ‘first nine minutes.’

 

For all those ads promising ‘Kamala was for they/them,’ I’m not seeing any signs this administration will be about ‘us/us.’ Feels more like ‘me/me.’

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 12/15/24 at 10:35am

"Feeling disappointed and disillusioned today. We were told the first day in office would be about helping everyday Americans—lowering grocery prices, addressing real issues. But instead? Pardoning January 6 rioters takes center stage, with promises to make it happen in the ‘first nine minutes.’ For all those ads promising ‘Kamala was for they/them,’ I’m not seeing any signs this administration will be about ‘us/us.’ Feels more like ‘me/me.’

Really. You have not seen the articles about cutting government spending which helps reduce inflation. Guess you missed the ones with Musk and Ramaswamy meeting with Congress about ways to make big spending cuts. Maybe you did not see Governor Noem who is nominated for secretary of Homeland Security has met with a few Senators already about what can be done to strengthen the border. I am sure there are other things but those came to me quickly.

POTUS on Day One can just do executive orders. To do things to lower grocery prices will need Congress, the same goes with things to secure the border. The Jan 6th pardons can be done by executive order so that can be accomplished on Day One. I got a good idea for you, how about giving Trump 6 months to 1 year and then come back to us with comments.

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 12/15/24 at 2:19pm

If the roles were reversed and a Democratic president spent their first day releasing violent prisoners with links to white supremacist groups—people found guilty by a jury of their peers—there’d be outrage.

 

It’s hard to call this anything but deeply hypocritical.

 

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 12/15/24 at 6:07pm

"If the roles were reversed and a Democratic president spent their first day releasing violent prisoners with links to white supremacist groups—people found guilty by a jury of their peers—there’d be outrage. It’s hard to call this anything but deeply hypocritical."

Please stop. You hate Trump, I get it. You complain about him not addressing the needs of the country on Day One and when I point out two things, you totally ignore it. "Jan 6th" was four years ago; you need to let it go. Over 1,200 people have been convicted and served some type of punishment for their actions that day. Once again, I will say POTUS of both parties have made horrible decisions on pardons. People make think this is one of them, I understand that. As several posters have said on this thread, the power of the POTUS to make pardons is not going to change in our lifetime.