Biden Weighs Additional Pardons and Commutations, According to White House
In her initial public comments following Hunter Biden’s pardon, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the decision.
The White House announced on Thursday that President Joe Biden is currently evaluating additional pardons and commutations.
During her Thursday press briefing, Jean-Pierre responded to a question regarding whether the president is contemplating blanket pardons for individuals or groups concerned about potential targeting by the incoming Trump administration.
“I’m not going to preempt the president, but I can confirm that he is reviewing other pardons and commutations,” Jean-Pierre stated.
She noted that to date, Biden has granted 20 individual pardons and 122 commutations during his time in office.
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Jean-Pierre also noted that recent Trump appointments for law enforcement have indicated a desire for retribution, which she believes should be taken seriously.
The press secretary was further questioned regarding her previous assertions to the media and the public that the president would not pardon his son. She explained that the circumstances had evolved.
“I just explained the president’s reasoning,” Jean-Pierre replied. “He articulated this himself, reflecting on how he grappled with this decision.”
She reiterated Biden’s stance on the pardon, emphasizing that he believed Hunter and his family had endured enough.
Jean-Pierre referenced comments from Rep. James Clyburn, who personally encouraged Biden to grant the pardon, feeling Hunter was being targeted solely due to his relationship with the president.
“I stressed the importance of parental obligations,” Clyburn stated in a CNN interview.
Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), a leading House Democrat, expressed his understanding of the familial aspect but deemed the pardon disappointing and counter to the rule of law.
Trump has commented that he would consider pardons for some of his supporters involved in the January 6 events at the Capitol, should he return to office in 2024. Recently, he brought up the topic of imprisoned January 6 protesters in relation to Hunter Biden’s pardon.
In 1974, President Gerald Ford issued a full pardon to his predecessor Richard Nixon for his involvement in the Watergate scandal.
The poll indicated that 34 percent approved of Biden’s pardon, while 16 percent were undecided.
From NTD News
