this post was submitted on 02 Dec 2024
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Summary

President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden, reversing his prior stance against using executive clemency.

The pardon covers Hunter’s federal gun conviction and tax evasion guilty plea, sparking political controversy.

Biden cited political attacks and a “miscarriage of justice” as reasons for his decision, emphasizing his son’s recovery from addiction and the targeting of his family.

Critics argue the move undermines the judicial process, while supporters view it as within Biden’s constitutional powers.

This decision shields Hunter from potential prison time as Biden nears the end of his presidency.

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[–] [email protected] 32 points 2 days ago (26 children)

Considering Hunter Biden was the victim of a politically motivated witch hunt, and not an actual criminal. I have no problem with this,

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[–] [email protected] 328 points 2 days ago (41 children)

The prior president pardoned a family member who was blackmailing and raping people, then appointed the same criminal to be ambassador to France. I don't give a fuck what President Biden does now. We're a country of criminals and oligarchs now.

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[–] [email protected] 38 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (6 children)

Stop with the whataboutism, this is the political class acting in its own interest at no benefit to any of us. If anything this discredits the legal system and is to our detriment.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

discredits the legal system

You mean the system that has already been discredited by refusing to sentence a felon because he is a politician?

The legal system is a joke.

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[–] [email protected] 39 points 2 days ago (2 children)

On the one hand this is pretty hypocritical. On the other hand I probably would do the same in his position given that trump plans to weaponize the Justice department. Not great but this is the state our country is in now.

[–] [email protected] 34 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

On the one hand this is pretty hypocritical. On the other hand I probably would do the same in his position given that trump plans to weaponize the Justice department.

Seriously. Here's the scenario I put myself in:

  • I'm 82 years old
  • Three close family members, including my first wife and two of my children, have died.
  • I'm being succeeded by someone who has promised to leverage government agencies to attack his political enemies
  • My son has symbolically become one of those enemies
  • I have choices:

 

  • I can wait to see whether my successor does some third world shit to him while he's in prison and be powerless to stop it if he does

OR

  • I can use my current powers to free him, saving him from that fate, and getting more time with my remaining son during my final few years of life.

Fuck I know what choice I'm making.

I understand every single argument about why he shouldn't have done it. I agree with some of them. Still no problem for me to put myself in a state of mind where I do the exact same thing.

Go ahead and come at me if you want, folks. I understand, but I won't be changing my mind. If I'm 82 years old, my son stands a good chance of being abused while in a jail cell after I retire, and I can both avoid that plus also get an extra year+ with my son before I die, with nothing more required than expressing my wish for him to be released, I'm doing it.

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 day ago (7 children)

Of course he did. If you thought otherwise you were gullible. Politicians lie and party affiliation makes no difference. Save the outrage for the truly outrageous things the next 4 years are going to bring.

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Yeah I would be fine with this IF he also used the expanded powers granted to him by Trump's Supreme Court to block the incoming fascist/monarchist takeover. Or, fine, don't try to block them with anything that gives the courts a chance to clarify that ruling, but also don't transfer power smoothly and peacefully to these bastards in any way shape or form, you know? If you're saying "fuck it", then fuck ALL of it; not just the parts of it that affect you personally.

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[–] [email protected] 263 points 2 days ago (11 children)

Critics argue the move undermines the judicial process, ...

Oh shut the fuck up.

[–] [email protected] 139 points 2 days ago

The Supreme Court undermined the judicial system.

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[–] [email protected] 246 points 2 days ago (10 children)

The votes came in. The country chose corruption and “fuck it” politics. At this point Joe just wants to protect himself / family from the coming retribution administration.

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[–] [email protected] 63 points 2 days ago (2 children)

It's not a great look...but let's be frank. Biden was pushed out of a race he wanted, during a presidency that wasn't all that bad considering what came before. The Dems that wanted him out are now all either infighting, or saying everything is fine and they'll definitely win in four years. Biden's in the last weeks of his job, and when he's lost so much already he probably just wants to ensure his family are safe.

After decades of public service, and being committed to handing power over to someone that's demonized what's left of his family, I'm all for Biden using his last week or two to protect his family and enjoy retirement.

[–] [email protected] 44 points 2 days ago (10 children)

I can't stand this "not a good look" talk when democrats have to basically be squeaky cleak that they can't even own a peanut farm or swear and yet 10 years into the "grab them by the pussy" guy who makes fun of disabled people, women, calls everyone names including his own party... Nobody bats an eyelash. I don't care if Joe Biden lied for his son at this point, Donald pardoned and will continue to pardon dozens of family and staff and insurrectionists. It's ok for Trump to lie about not knowing project 2025 and then immediately hire everyone involved with it days later... But Biden can't lie once. Got it.

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[–] [email protected] 136 points 2 days ago (5 children)

I’ve always found it absurd that presidents possess the authority to grant pardons. It trivializes our judicial system and undermines its integrity. This power should not be vested in the presidency.

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[–] [email protected] 34 points 2 days ago (21 children)

Leonard Peltier? Edward Snowden?

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[–] [email protected] 88 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I'm not a fan of the nepotism and I don't plan on defending it. Biden claims he needs to do this to keep his family safe from an unfair system. If he's going to do stuff like this and acknowledge our institutions are flawed how about do stuff for the American people, Ukraine, or anyone without the last name Biden. The peaceful transfer of power to fascism, but his family got theirs leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

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[–] [email protected] 96 points 2 days ago (34 children)

A lot of people here missing the point. We don't care about this because Hunter was the target of a witch hunt. The actual "crimes" weren't impactful at all. The Republicans literally spent 8 years dragging him through the mud, digging for anything that he could be charged with, just because who his dad is. And Hunter didn't even touch politics in the slightest.

The gun charge is the moral equivalent of crucifying someone for having pirated music on their hard drive. It was a nothing crime, never enforced, and the only reason it was in this case was because they happened to find something they could latch onto.

I don't know anything about the tax evasion conviction. If it was serious, then sure, fuck him. But I'd want them going after every politician AND their family with equal vigor. But guess what? They aren't.

That's why most of us don't really care. The man is not important. He holds no position of power, nor has he expressed any intent to. He is not important, except as a whipping boy for their propaganda. And a pardon for such preposterous prosecution is fine with me.

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 day ago

Is this just a distraction from the incoming administration refusing to sign ethics statements they signed into law, or avoiding background checks for sensitive government positions

[–] [email protected] 41 points 2 days ago (15 children)

Remember guys, it's not corruption when it's legal...

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[–] [email protected] 34 points 2 days ago (45 children)

Good. I hope the democrats play just as dirty and hard as the republicans going forward. We cannot be civil with barbarians.

[–] [email protected] 60 points 2 days ago (3 children)

I would also like them to do that too, but I would prefer they do it for something other than nepotism.

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[–] [email protected] 58 points 2 days ago (35 children)

I am more shocked by people supporting Biden's action than the action itself

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