‘Seriously?’: KJP Snaps Back After Reporter Asks About Hunter Biden’s Stunning Pardon
President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden has ignited a political firestorm, fueling accusations of cronyism and deepening concerns about the politicization of the American justice system. The stunning announcement, made late Sunday, came just weeks before Biden’s departure from the White House and after repeated assurances that he would not intervene in his son’s legal troubles.
Hunter faced convictions for gun and tax charges stemming from a years-long investigation by the Department of Justice, an agency his father once promised to shield from political influence. Now, the president’s pardon has handed his critics fresh ammunition, suggesting Biden has placed family loyalty above his stated commitment to justice and transparency.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced an onslaught of questions Monday about the controversial move. When a reporter asked whether the president agreed with President-elect Donald Trump’s view that the justice system had been “weaponized” for political purposes, Jean-Pierre snapped, “Seriously? Read the president’s statement.”
Jean-Pierre defended Biden’s decision, claiming the president believes in the integrity of the Justice Department but also thinks “politics infected the process” that led to Hunter’s convictions. She doubled down, asserting that Biden views the treatment of his son as “cruel” and driven by his “political opponents.” Now, the pardon raises questions about whether those principles were conveniently set aside for personal reasons.
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Biden announced Sunday evening that he will be issuing a pardon for his son, Hunter, who was convicted in two separate federal cases earlier this year. “Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter,” Biden wrote in a White House statement.
“From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted.”
“Without aggravating factors like use in a crime, multiple purchases, or buying a weapon as a straw purchaser, people are almost never brought to trial on felony charges solely for how they filled out a gun form,” the statement added. “Those who were late paying their taxes because of serious addictions, but paid them back subsequently with interest and penalties, are typically given non-criminal resolutions. It is clear that Hunter was treated differently.”
Hunter, 54, faced a number of legal issues in 2024 after he was indicted by Special Counsel David Weiss in two separate criminal matters. He was first convicted in Delaware federal court for lying on a federal form when purchasing a handgun, and was later convicted of multiple felony and misdemeanor charges in a federal tax case filed in California.
“The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election. Then, a carefully negotiated plea deal, agreed to by the Department of Justice, unraveled in the court room – with a number of my political opponents in Congress taking credit for bringing political pressure on the process. Had the plea deal held, it would have been a fair, reasonable resolution of Hunter’s cases,” the president wrote.
Biden’s final weeks in office were already fraught with challenges, from a turbulent economy to waning public approval. The pardon of his son, however, may be the most damaging blow to his legacy, solidifying perceptions of hypocrisy and weakening public trust in the presidency.
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