this post was submitted on 15 Sep 2023
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The White House reiterated on Friday that President Biden would not pardon his son Hunter Biden if he is convicted of a crime.

When asked if Biden would commute his son’s sentence if convicted on gun charges, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said no. This marks the first definitive answer the administration has given since Hunter Biden was formally charged on Thursday, though a similar message was first floated in July.

“I’ve answered this question before,” Jean-Pierre said, referencing the July briefing. “It was asked of me not too long ago, a couple of weeks ago, and I was very clear, and I said no.”

Hunter Biden was indicted on three felony gun charges, alleging that the younger Biden illegally purchased a gun while on drugs. The charges could carry a 10 year sentence if convicted.

His attorney has denied the charges, and said their constitutionality is “very much in doubt”

“It is a unique and unjustified charge. Hunter owned an unloaded gun for 11 days,” attorney Abbe Lowell said Thursday. “There has never been a charge like this that has been brought in the United States.”

The president’s son is also under investigation by a federal special counsel for alleged tax misconduct and by a Republican House investigation into prior business deals.

Special Counsel David Weiss stated in court filings that he intends to finalize charges related to the tax misconduct by the end of the month.

Republicans allege that Biden used his position to garner lucrative deals for his son. Members of the House GOP have used the claims to push for an impeachment inquiry against the president.

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[–] OctopusKurwa@lemm.ee 150 points 1 year ago (7 children)

Meanwhile Trump sold people like Lil Wayne pardons for 2 million quid a pop and sprung Roger Stone and Paul Manafort.

[–] biker_bard@lemmy.world 84 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Doesn’t matter because they’re not playing by the same rules. Things like ethics are NOT relevant to the right. They only care about perceived wins. We are quickly approaching the point where ALL things will be on the table.

[–] NevermindNoMind@lemmy.world 34 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Right? The precedent has been set, the president can use the pardon power for favors or profit or whatever. Biden should just call it a witch hunt, pardon Hunter, and everyone will forget in 2 weeks.

[–] Bizarroland@kbin.social 17 points 1 year ago

That's the kind of thing you only get to do when you sell your soul to the devil.

If you're the soul having variety of politician then that option simply isn't available to you.

[–] tryptaminev@feddit.de 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Problem is that it still damages the institutions and weakens the rule of law and democracy. The right always has an advantage because they want to destroy democracy while playing politics, whereas the center and left need to also protect democracy on top of playing politics.

[–] madcaesar@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

Too many people, even on the left, don't understand this point. The Democrats have to fight bad faith actors while not stooping the their shitty level.

So every time I hear lefties screaming why isn't Joe doing more, it's because he has to play by the rules and not act like lunatic Trump.

[–] partial_accumen@lemmy.world 22 points 1 year ago

And Rod Blagojevich who tried to use his power as Governor of the state of Illinois to literally sell a senate seat to the highest bidder. He was convicted and sent to prison....and Trump pardoned him.

[–] hudson@sh.itjust.works 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

2 million quid a pop

Thanks for the mental image of Trump forcing Lil Wayne to pay in British Pounds rather than USD in some sort of sadistic mind-game.

[–] PupBiru@kbin.social 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

i believe the current policy is to force people to pay in rubles

[–] loobkoob@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago

Two million rubles? Let me check down the back of the sofa

[–] Nougat@kbin.social 11 points 1 year ago

And Flynn, who is an unindicted co-conspirator I’m Georgia now, for things he did since he was pardoned.

[–] rastilin@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

Revoke their pardons then. It's only fair.

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[–] Pratai@lemmy.ca 82 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Why would he? It’s fucking crazy how the GOP has so normalized corruption that this is something to be asked of a president.

[–] PsychedSy@sh.itjust.works 12 points 1 year ago

Because it's a bullshit charge to begin with. He should just pardon everyone with a conviction for that.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 38 points 1 year ago (6 children)

I'm going to keep asking this question and you should too: why is the NRA being so silent?

[–] Bread_And_Buried@lemmy.sdf.org 12 points 1 year ago

The NRA, and Republicans supported gun control targeted at armed people of color, so this really shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.

Gun control in California comes from Republicans being afraid of the Black Panthers, and Ronald Reagan is actually the one that banned open carrying in the state. Now Republicans blame liberals for the strict gun laws in California, because the brains of Republicans have been eaten by amoeba.

[–] charles@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago

Obviously because they agree that the federal government should be taking guns and locking up anyone who uses any drug. /s

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 year ago

Wrong political party

Rules for thee, not for mee

[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 year ago

I'll ask that of 2a rights groups that actually do stuff, but the NRA has existed solely to fill Wayne LaPierre's pockets for a long time, they don't actually do shit.

Because the NRA isn't about gun rights.

[–] PeckerBrown@lemmy.world 35 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The GOP is what occurs when a sewer full of used condoms reach critical mass.

[–] FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

This explains why they’re anti-abortion. They want to live…

[–] Rapidcreek@reddthat.com 30 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

"If Joe pardons Hunter, then he's a terrible father for not teaching his son to take responsibility for his actions. And if Joe doesn't pardon Hunter, then he's a terrible father for not showing his son unconditional love and understanding."

Coming soon from Fox or NYT near you.....

[–] BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Oh, I heard pretty much the same thing on on local radio. I think they all get the same newsletter that tells them what their talking points should be.

[–] saruwatarikooji@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

You're not far off... Basically any news outlets with any ties to murdoch get a script for what they have to say.

There was a YouTube video not long back that pulled clips from a bunch of local news stations and showed how they were all saying the exact same thing almost verbatim... It started cutting between them in succession and the report was still coherent.

[–] Zerophnx@lemmy.world 29 points 1 year ago

I mean, obviously he'll just pardon himself!

He's running for president, and that's why we keep hearing about him, right?

[–] seathru@lemm.ee 23 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Hunter Biden was indicted on three felony gun charges, alleging that the younger Biden illegally purchased a gun while on drugs.

Do Republicans really want to open the Pandora's box of combing through firearms sales? Surely that leopard wouldn't turn on them.

Hunter owned an unloaded gun for 11 days

That kind of sounds like a straw purchase, and is something with a legal precedent. Why wouldn't they go for that?

[–] DocMcStuffin@lemmy.world 15 points 1 year ago (2 children)

That kind of sounds like a straw purchase, and is something with a legal precedent. Why wouldn’t they go for that?

He only owned it for 11 days because his wife threw it in the garbage.

[–] AbidanYre@lemmy.world 16 points 1 year ago

That does not sound like the right way to get rid of a gun.

[–] seathru@lemm.ee 7 points 1 year ago

Ahh, the old "My wife threw it in the trash". Second only to "I lost it in a boating accident".

I jest. Thanks for answering, I didn't know that part.

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 23 points 1 year ago

Hey president, so are you going to do something corrupt?

No? Really? Why the fuck not?

America is silly place...

[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 1 year ago

Hol' up, this is bullshit. Even if you think there're other reasons to go after him (heard some noise about business dealings overseas, don't know what that's about), this is clearly bullshit. First of all, those republicans, like me, are supposed to support gun ownership, and imo that should include nonviolent felons. In fact, a court case recently ruled drug users can possess firearms, so I'm interested to see how that plays out.

Get good republicans, gun ownership is not a crime, nor are bump stocks, FRTs, DIAS, etc.

[–] Uniquitous@lemmy.one 11 points 1 year ago

If he did the crime, he should do the time. See how fucking simple that is, you republican monkeyspanks?

[–] blazera@kbin.social 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Awesome, so republicans are on board with more gun regulation right?

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