(NewsReady.com) – President Joe Biden could make all of his son, Hunter Biden’s, legal troubles go away if he wanted to. The commander-in-chief has nearly unlimited pardon power. With a swipe of his pen, he could ensure his only living son never goes to prison. But the White House has said that won’t ever happen.
On July 27, a reporter asked Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre if “there is any possibility that the president would end up pardoning his son?” She immediately dismissed it, saying, “No.” The reporter tried to follow up, but she refused, telling him, “I just said no. I just answered.” She then moved on to another reporter.
BREAKING: Karine Jean-Pierre says Joe Biden would not pardon Hunter. pic.twitter.com/tAKRPE42JV
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) July 27, 2023
Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY), a former federal prosecutor, told ABC “This Week” host Jonathan Karl that he doesn’t think “there’s any chance” that Biden is going to pardon his son. He used it as an opportunity to slam former President Donald Trump, saying he “pardoned all of his friends and anyone who had any access to him.” Goldman is referring to the former president’s pardon of Jared Kushner’s father, Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, Steve Bannon, and others.
Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the Constitution gives the president of the US the “power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the [country], except in cases on impeachment.” Essentially that means the commander-in-chief can power anyone who has committed a federal crime. He can’t do anything about impeachments or interfere with cases brought by the states or civil cases.
While Biden has the power to let Hunter off the hook for his alleged crimes, politically, it would be a bad idea. Republicans already believe the president is interfering with the Department of Justice. Completely allowing his son off the hook while his predecessor faces 40 felony charges could be political suicide.
Of course, there’s also the possibility that Biden is going to completely contradict the press secretary. Only time will tell.
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