BYy Makhulu 

 What you would do for love.

US President Joe Biden has reversed himself and will be granting a full and unconditional pardon to his son, Hunter.

Biden believes his son will be persecuted by the incoming Trump administration and more particularly the Department of Justice.

Donald Trump has made no secret that he will be seeking retribution and will be going after those who sought to put him jailed and disparaged him. This has made many liberals fearful. They know his wrath will be unleashed.

In June of this year, President Biden said he will not be using his presidential executive power to absolve his son. He now has had a change of heart and will be protecting his son. Blood and power trumps everything in this world despite all the platitudes about fairness and transparency. It’s not what you know but who you know.

The president issued a statement which read: “Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter. 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. 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. 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, unravelled in the courtroom—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. 

“No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son—and that is wrong. There has been an effort to break Hunter—who has been five and a half years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution. In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me—and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough.

“For my entire career I have followed a simple principle: just tell the American people the truth. They’ll be fair-minded. Here’s the truth: I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice—and once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further. I hope Americans will understand why a father and a president would come to this decision.”

This has caused uproar and outrage among Democrats and Trump supporters alike.

Some say this makes the president look hypocritical and puts the interests of his family first before the country.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis, who is a Democrat, wrote: “While as a father I certainly understand President Joe Biden’s natural desire to help his son by pardoning him, I am disappointed that he put his family ahead of country. This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation.”

Trump’s newly appointed Communications Director Steven Cheung weighed in: “The failed witch hunts against President Trump have proven that the Democrat-controlled DOJ and other radical prosecutors are guilty of weaponising the justice system. That system of justice must be fixed and due process must be restored for all Americans which is exactly what President Trump will do as he returns to the White House with an overwhelming mandate from the American people.”

Donald Trump took to his Truth Social website saying, “Does the pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of justice.”

Hunter Biden has been a troubled man for a long time. He is an embarrassment to his family and a liability for President Joe Biden.

Hunter Biden embarked on a relationship with his dead brother Beau’s wife. Hunter Biden is a known crack smoker and has taken other drugs. Hunter Biden solicits prostitutes for sexual pleasure. Hunter Biden fathered a child with a stripper.  It has been said that Hunter Biden used his father’s name and position to benefit from business deals in different countries.

There are those who say Hunter’s life was traumatised by the death of his mother and brother which may have led to emotional problems.

His father has declared his love and support of him and this may have led to his decision to grant the pardon. Family comes first as they say.

President Biden does not believe that Hunter will be treated fairly and he may have a point. The new administration would seek to skewer and crucify him with no regard for an ex-president in his twilight years whose life has been scarred by personal tragedy. They want to make him suffer.

At the end of the day, leaders protect their own. They use their powers to safeguard those in the circle of trust.

President Bill Clinton granted a pardon to his brother, Roger in 2001 on his last day in office. Roger was convicted on drug charges in 1985 and served a year in prison.

Donald Trump as resident pardoned his son-in-law’s father Charles Kushner, a real-estate mogul in 2020. Charles Kushner pled guilty to tax evasion and other charges. Trump is now considering appointing him as Ambassador to France.

President Jimmy Carter showed clemency to his brother Billy who was embroiled in business deals in Libya which some say posed a national security concern.