(CLO) On Monday (December 2), the White House defended President Joe Biden's pardon of his son Hunter Biden, saying that Biden feared his son would be " politically retaliated against" and added that many previous US Presidents had also pardoned relatives.
Biden, a Democrat whose term ends Jan. 20 when Republican President-elect Donald Trump takes office, signed an unconditional pardon for Hunter on Sunday, saying he believed his son had been “treated unfairly.” Hunter has pleaded guilty to both tax evasion and gun charges.
The US president has previously said he would not pardon his son, including when speaking to ABC News in June. When asked if he would rule out a pardon, he said “yes.”
US President Joe Biden walks with his son Hunter Biden at the White House. Photo: AP
His surprise move was condemned by his Republican political opponents, as well as by Democrats who said it undermined public confidence in the rule of law, a concept that Mr. Biden and his party have used to criticize Mr. Trump.
Republicans have accused Mr Biden of “blatant corruption”, with some Democrats saying he puts family above the law and country.
White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre defended the president's actions on Monday, saying Biden believes Hunter would not have been "targeted" if it had not been his son. Jean-Pierre is one of several White House officials who have repeatedly said Biden would not pardon his son.
"One of the reasons the president issued the pardon was because it looked like his political opponents would give up on it," she told reporters aboard Air Force One during a trip to Angola. "They would continue to come after his son. That's what he believes."
Jean-Pierre stressed that this is not the first time a US President has pardoned a family member or relative. Former President Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother Roger before leaving office.
Trump also pardoned his daughter’s father-in-law, Charles Kushner, who was recently appointed by Trump as the new US Ambassador to France. Trump also appointed another in-law to his new administration, Massad Boulos, as Senior Advisor to the President on Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs. Boulos’ son, Michael, is married to Trump’s daughter, Tiffany.
Hunter Biden pleaded guilty in September to federal tax charges in a Los Angeles court and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 16. A jury also convicted Hunter in June of unlawful use and possession of a firearm, and he is also scheduled to be sentenced on those charges this month.
Bui Huy (according to Reuters, AJ, AP)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nha-trang-bao-ve-ong-biden-noi-nhieu-tong-thong-my-cung-tung-an-xa-cho-nguoi-than-post323913.html
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