Biden pardons his son, Trump will absolve his criminal allies. America shouldn’t stand for this | Simon Jenkins

The outgoing president’s abuse of the constitution opens the door to more abuse by the next one. The rules were never meant to condone crime

The hypocrisy is breathtaking. Yes, any father might do the same for a son. Yes, the boy is reformed, forgiven, on the mend. Only nasty people are out to jail him. Live and let live. Yet there is something monumental in the pardon granted by the outgoing US president, Joe Biden. Six months ago, he scored political points by denying he would pardon his son Hunter Biden. Now, with the election over, he has done so.

The easy response is: what is new? President Gerald Ford pardoned his predecessor, Richard Nixon; Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother and other figures whose families had donated to the Democrats; Donald Trump pardoned his son-in-law’s father and dodgy aides galore. No one doubts that, as president, Trump will pardon a number of outrageous figures – perhaps even the Capitol Hill rioters of 2021. We wait to see if this includes trying to pardon himself from various pending prosecutions (though he cannot extend these powers to cases brought at state level).

Simon Jenkins is a Guardian columnist

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

Topics

Read Biden's pardon of his son Hunter Biden

President Joe Biden announced that he was pardoning his son Hunter Biden, who faced sentencing later this month for two federal cases.
NBC News - 17h
President Biden Pardons His Son Hunter Weeks Before Trump Takes Office

The pardon comes weeks before President Biden leaves office and transfers power to President-elect Donald J. Trump, who spent years attacking Hunter Biden over his legal and personal issues.
The New York Times - 2h
Ben Jennings on Joe Biden’s pardon for his son, Hunter – cartoon

Continue reading...
The Guardian - 2h
Americanswers… on 5 Live! Why has Joe Biden pardoned his son?

Hunter Biden faced up to 17 years in prison on federal tax charges
BBC News - 2h
More Democrats signal discomfort with Biden’s pardon of his son – live

White House press secretary defended president’s pardon of Hunter Biden as ‘not an easy decision to make’. Biden issues full pardon to son Hunter Analysis: Biden delivers heartfelt ...
The Guardian - 34m
Democratic senator blasts Biden's pardon of son

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) blasted President Biden on Monday for putting “personal interest ahead of duty” by granting his son Hunter Biden a blanket pardon for all crimes he committed or may ...
The Hill - 2h
Joe Biden criticized by some supporters for pardoning son Hunter: ‘Selfish move’

Some Democrats express disappointment in Biden for setting ‘bad precedent’ but others leap to his defence. Joe Biden has been criticised by some of his own supporters for issuing a pardon to ...
The Guardian - 1h
How Trump reacted to Biden pardoning Hunter Biden

President-elect Donald Trump called President Biden's decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, a miscarriage of justice. CBS News chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes breaks down the ...
CBS News - 1h
Trump fundraising off Hunter Biden pardon

President-elect Trump's team has launched a new fundraising petition online in response to President Biden pardoning his son Hunter Biden. “The Biden Crime Family wants to sweep their CORRUPTION ...
The Hill - 1h
Thousands cheer Biden's arrival in Angola for his long-promised sub-Saharan Africa visit

President Joe Biden has arrived for his long-awaited first presidential visit to sub-Saharan Africa to the cheers of thousands in Angola
ABC News - 10m