People in glass houses.....

Considering Trump wouldn't lift a finger when his vice president was being threatened with death by the mob I wouldn't surrender one of my sons to his power and unlike Biden Ive never had to bury any of mine. I think he's right to risk his reputation for his son and I'm not ashamed to say I'd do the same.

theworriedwell

Leaving his son to the mercies of Trump? I don't blame him. I think Trump would have delighted in making things as bad as possible for a Biden in his power. What father would do that?

Interesting point.

But what does any of this this say about the justice system in the USA?
What do Americans think of their President and President-elect?

Should they have these powers?

Is it possible it won't hurt the democrats as much as one might think.

Since Biden is going/retiring democrats can criticise him for it/say it's wrong/he's of the past in a few months, and meanwhile Trumps "pardons" will soon make it look pretty tame.

It’s awful but I suspect the USA will be an unsafe place to live for some people who have opposed Trump. I wondered if it was Biden’s only way to protect his son from a potentially vengeful system. Perhaps, if the son is pardoned he could leave the USA for a while to avoid the vultures? Otherwise I don’t understand it!

At the end of every presidency the president has the right to issue pardons . Trump let go much more serious criminals at the end of his presidency . Hunters crime was anyways s minor one and only was made more serious due Biden being his father . Trump will do far worse like freeing the insurrectionists where people were united and killed .

Joe Biden as the POTUS was imo wrong to do this. But as for Joe Biden as Hunter’s father, who can really blame him? Would you like the possibility of Donald Trump as the POTUS coming for your son?
I’ve recently been re-watching The West Wing - oh for a POTUS like Jed Bartlet!

Yes exactly..
I had read the Trump team were already looking to drag more up (or maybe more of the same again)?

I don't agree with it but I can understand why.

That was my first thought too Smileless.

I think that was the point.
Still don't like it.

Smileless2012

That's a good point theworriedwell, I hadn't thought of that.

I agree, hadn't thought of that.

Jeanathome - I try to avoid conspiracy theories. Despite which I do occasionally wonder about the power of money to influence
I
May be naive but I worry more about America than the UK

That's a good point theworriedwell, I hadn't thought of that.

Leaving his son to the mercies of Trump? I don't blame him. I think Trump would have delighted in making things as bad as possible for a Biden in his power. What father would do that?

Smileless2012

Yes, it's wrong of Biden to pardon his son and it's wrong of Trump to ensure that he gets pardoned but that's America for you.

That’s about the size of it.😧
DT may well pardon all those jailed for offences at the Capitol.

Iam64

Biden is morally wrong to pardon his son. I see the pardon. Ru a to December 2024, which raises the question is there more not yet publicised.

Trump is morally wrong.

I’m afraid keeepingquiet is correct and that Musk is a malign force here - in fact he’s a bit Bond Villain with world wide negative disruptive influences

Do you ever think that these people are just figure heads, the front men? And the real threat is lurking in the background?

Just a thought.

Come on.

Trump is going to get off with far worse crimes - found guilty and awaiting sentencing, plus those in the pipeline being dropped.

Can hardly blame Biden.

I heard on the news that Bill Clinton pardoned his brother in law who was convicted on drug charges, when he was POTUS.

Seems par for the course over the pond.

summed up nicely on BBC I player news just now

"The Trump camp was quick to issue a response to the news of the Biden pardon, saying that the president-elect would fix the US justice system and restore due process in his second term.

It’s something to keep in mind when Trump returns to office, as he is expected to again use his pardoning power to aid associates who have been prosecuted during the Biden presidency

– and to free many of his supporters who have been convicted during the 6 January 2021 assault on the US Capitol.

Here's the American Civil Liberties organisation summarising Trumps plans in the justice system

www.aclu.org/trump-on-the-criminal-legal-system

There's going to be major conflict as from what he has said he intends to politicise the FBI, the one remaining relatively independent judicial organisation.

FBI leaders are appointed every 10 years, and although Wray was appointed by Trump himself in 2017 he hasn't pleased Trump and its likely Trump will try to replace him before the 10 years are up, but this will be contentious to many republicans too.

Expect Trump will do the same for his cronies, he did it last time.

True MaizieD

Two wrongs don't make a right. They are all devoid of moral fibre and integrity

NotSpaghetti

I did not expect it Foxie - and I'm saddened by it.

I read it's from 2014 to 2024 because there have been lots of new digging about in the 2014-2015 period.

Whilst I think his crimes probably wouldn't have been investigated if he wasn't "a Biden" I still think it's wrong of Biden to have pardoned him.

I was also shocked, I can't remember where I read it, possibly Washington Post but it will further taint Biden's legacy.

Moral or not I can't say I blame him. It was a politically motivated prosecution in the first place.

Just wait until Trump gets going...

It's a weird system.. I thought the same last time when Trump pardoned some very morally dubious people..

So if you are powerful and rich in the USA you and your family can get away any number of crimes. Overt corruption.