WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter, on Sunday night, sparing the younger Biden a possible prison sentence for federal felony gun and tax convictions and reversing his past promises not to use the extraordinary powers of the presidency for the benefit of his family.

The Democratic president had previously said he would not pardon his son or commute his sentence after convictions in the two cases in Delaware and California. The move comes weeks before Hunter Biden was set to receive his punishment after his trial conviction in the gun case and guilty plea on tax charges, and less than two months before President-elect Donald Trump is set to return to the White House.

Biden, who time and again pledged to Americans that he would restore norms and respect for the rule of law after Trump’s first term in office, ultimately used his position to help his son, breaking his public pledge to Americans that he would do no such thing.

  • geneva_convenienceOP
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    13 hours ago

    Biden is proving he is willing to violate the norms to bail out their criminal family. But not use those powers for the average American.

    It is certainly impressive Democrats are willing to waive this away as a minor thing. Wasn’t their entire point that they are not the fascistic party but committed to law and order?

    • Ahrotahntee@lemmy.ca
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      2 hours ago

      and? Nothing he could have done would have made you support him so why in the everloving fuck should they care that you disapprove?

    • .Donuts@lemmy.world
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      11 hours ago

      No, the Republicans are the self proclaimed Law & Order party.

      I love how pearls get clutched when a Dem does it. Where were you the last 8 years?

      • IndustryStandard@lemmy.world
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        10 hours ago

        Republicans have been pulling these blatant violations for ages. Trump pardoned Blackwater criminals on his way out.

        Supposedly however Biden couldn’t load the courts or achieve anything because “norms and values”.

        Democrats achieved nothing and at the end took a steaming dump on those values they used as the excuse for doing nothing

      • freagle@lemmygrad.ml
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        9 hours ago

        I don’t think you understand the critique. The Supreme Court literally gave the office of the president immunity for crimes committed in execution of the duty of the office. Biden promised to not use that new power because he was deeply principled. That means that even though he and the entire DNC are operating on rhetoric that says DJT is literally an enemy of democracy and freedom and America, they won’t do anything about it even though he’s a convicted felon. No action whatsoever.

        But he will break his own promises to pardon his son. So he’s really not principled.

        So if he’s not that principled, and he has the power to stop the fascism, but he doesn’t, and he has the power to stop putting infants in solitary, but he doesn’t, and he has the power to stop putting asylum seekers in solitary, but he doesn’t, and he has the power to stop sending military surplus to cops, but he doesn’t, and so so so many other things…

        If it’s not his principles, then what is it? It must be desire. Either he desires expediency over saving the country and ending torture, or he desires what the right is bringing and he desires torture.

        There is no actual way to have the power to stop these things, to say you’re too principled to do anything about it, and then violate those principles for personal gain a few months later without the conclusion being that you never wanted the good things in the first place you just campaigned on lies and you’re in support of the outcomes.

          • Grapho
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            6 hours ago

            You’re out here going “Ra Ra Biden, Trump does worse” all over the fucking thread calling others sycophants? Lmao

            • RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world
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              5 hours ago

              “All over this thread…”? Two comments and I really got under your skin. You deliberately avoid understanding me or my position, are devoid of nuance, and just make shit up to suit your narrative.

              Fuck off back to your troll farm.

              • Grapho
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                5 hours ago

                Everyone I don’t like is a bot, the sycophants guide to political discussion

        • amanneedsamaid@sopuli.xyz
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          9 hours ago

          And a 100% valid one that you are being willingly obtuse towards. Open your eyes and see that although all politicians have and always will suck and lie, Trump is a traitor. I would elect any non-MAGA Republican for 8 years over Trump for four more. He is not a legitimate politician

          • geneva_convenienceOP
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            8 hours ago

            Pointing out that republicans do this means you are comparing Biden to republicans. And you saying it is acceptable for democrats as well because republicans do it as well, not because democrats are better. This blatant abuse of power means Biden is a MAGA-democrat. And you are willing to elect MAGA-democrats.

            • krashmo@lemmy.world
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              8 hours ago

              The people defending Biden know this is bullshit. They just want to believe this is a sign that Democrats are finally going to stop complaining about decorum and play hardball. It isn’t, and they won’t, but at least Joe gets to protect his kid I guess. Too bad Joe couldn’t find the will to force Garland to do his job and prosecute Trump instead.