Summary

President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden, prompting strong backlash from Republicans.

GOP lawmakers criticized the move as an abuse of power and an attempt to avoid accountability, with figures like Rep. James Comer and Sen. Chuck Grassley calling it hypocritical and corrupt.

Biden defended the pardon, citing “selective prosecution” and claiming Hunter was unfairly targeted due to their family connection.

Hunter faced convictions for federal gun and tax charges.

  • mommykink@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    whataboutism

    And those “small fries” were illegally buying a firearm and skirting $1,400,000 in federal taxes.

    And I thought we were the guys who wanted stronger gun control and the rich to pay their taxes?? Does that go out the window when it’s one of “ours”?

    • Boddhisatva@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Based on how those crimes have been enforced, yes. The federal gun charge that says a drug addict cannot own a gun is rarely enforced historically and is being challenged in the courts by Republicans because the DOJ started using it against white supremacists. Yet Hunter Biden wasn’t even allowed a plea deal because of the politics around him. As for the taxes, when he was caught, he paid them and the fines associated with them. For literally anyone else caught doing the same, that is the end of it. No jail time or further penalties.

      Joe Biden tried to let the courts do their job and trusted that the courts would be fair. They weren’t. This was clearly a political prosecution and I would have done the same in (Joe) Biden’s shoes.

      • mommykink@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        The federal gun charge that says a drug addict cannot own a gun is rarely enforced historically

        And yet it’s still a felony. I thought we were the ones who support strong gun regulation?

        wasn’t even allowed a plea deal

        No one is entitled to a plea deal. For the severity of Hunter’s crimes, I’m fine with it.

        As for the taxes, when he was caught, he paid them

        Keyphrase: “When he was caught.” He was just fine stealing the $1.4m from Americans otherwise.

        Joe Biden tried to let the courts do their job and trusted that the courts would be fair. They weren’t.

        That’s not how it works and you know this is going to literally be Trump’s argument on Day One when he starts pardoning his supporters, right?

    • Shiggles@sh.itjust.works
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      2 days ago

      I’m not saying I agree with the decision, but as Biden, would you really want your son somewhere Trump could immediately fuck with him as soon as he wanted? Had Kamala won this would absolutely be a dumbass decision. With Trump incoming… I get it.

      • mommykink@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        Who cares about what happens to Hunter “10% for The Big Guy” Biden? Maybe I’m just some poor peon who doesn’t understand how the ultra-wealthy are, but “lying during a gun purchase and not paying $1,400,000 in federal taxes” seem like pretty avoidable crimes to me.

        This is such an awful thing for Biden to do. The “both sides” folk are going to have a time with this for the next four years and they’ll be absolutely right in this case.