To paraphrase a pretty good writer named William Shakespeare: "Will he or won't he, that is the question."
The question is whether President Joe Biden will pardon First Son Hunter, who pleaded guilty in September to failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes—a crime for which he could get up to 17 years behind bars. He was also found guilty in June for lying on a federal form regarding a firearm purchase.
Time is running short because he will face sentencing for the gun case on Dec. 12 and for the tax case on Dec. 16.
On Saturday, his legal team released a blistering response to the "political prosecutions," and much of it seemed to be directly addressing his dad:
In a 52-page paper titled “The political prosecutions of Hunter Biden” released Saturday, Hunter Biden’s lawyers criticize the foundation of the investigations into their client, arguing that he was prosecuted for crimes that an ordinary citizen would not have been. Hunter Biden is likely to face further unfair threats when President-elect Donald Trump takes office, the lawyers contend.
The document at times seems aimed directly at President Joe Biden, who has repeatedly said that he will not pardon or commute the sentences of his son. Hunter has been with his father over the past several days in Nantucket, where the Biden family for decades has gathered for Thanksgiving.
Biden has said in the past that he has no intention of issuing a pardon, but at this point, that seems strange because, frankly, he has nothing to lose as his political career is already coming to an end.
President Biden says he will not pardon Hunter Biden and will accept the outcome, no matter what it is, of his son’s trial.
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) June 7, 2024
This is the way. No one is above the law.
pic.twitter.com/B0P3WCvUIT
Related: Joe Biden Speaks on Hunter's Felony Conviction—'I Will Accept the Outcome of This Case'
Trump Reveals Whether He’d Be Willing to Pardon Hunter Biden: ‘Very Bad for Our Country’
President-elect Donald Trump has not been definitive on the matter, but as our Rusty Weiss reported, he said in October that he "wouldn’t take it off the books”:
NOW - Trump, on pardoning Hunter Biden: "I wouldn't take it off the books." pic.twitter.com/TDT8i2sQ9t
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) October 24, 2024
Hunter's lawyers argue that he's been subject to unfair prosecution and that they fear Trump will try to come after him:
“With the election now decided, the threat against Hunter is real,” the report asserts. It cites comments that Trump has made about targeting his opponents, along with remarks from congressional Republicans who for years have investigated Hunter and other Biden family members.
“There is no disputing that Trump has said his enemies list includes Hunter,” the report says. “The prospect that Trump will turn his vengeance on the Special Counsel prosecutors if they fail to take a harder line against Hunter no doubt exerts considerable pressure on them not to let up on Hunter.”
The missive goes on, complaining at length about the weaponization of the Department of Justice against a private citizen. That argument shows an almost unbelievable level of chutzpah, considering Joe Biden has unleashed possibly the most politicized DOJ in history on Catholics, Trump, and anyone who was within 100 miles of the Capitol on Jan. 6.
The question remains, will he or won't he? Will this new pleading message move Joe Biden to go back on his word?
Unless he's received some private assurance from Trump, the question becomes, "Why wouldn't he?" I don't think ethics or "the rule of law" is going to stop him; we've seen what kind of man the leader is, and those things don't seem to be at the top of his list of priorities.
If I were a betting man, I'd say yes, he will pardon his son.
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