Outgoing President Joe Biden has pardoned his son Hunter Biden for federal gun and tax violations. As a result, the son is likely to avoid prison time.
– I have kept my promise even though I have seen my son being selectively and unfairly prosecuted, President Biden saeid in a statement.
– It is clear that he was treated differently, Biden added.
He concluded the statement by saying that he “hopes the American people understand why a father and a president landed on this decision.”
Hunter Biden was scheduled to be sentenced in the gun case on December 12. The sentencing for the tax case was expected four days later.
Incoming President Donald Trump referred to the pardon as “abuse of power” and “a miscarriage of justice.”
– Destroys legacy
Civita advisor and U.S. expert Eirik Løkke believes the decision to pardon his son is unwise, unfortunate, and destructive for the rule of law.
– This is going to destroy Biden’s legacy. It will tarnish his legacy even more than Kamala Harris’s loss did, Løkke said.
– This is very unwise, unfortunate, and destructive for the rule of law. It is especially unfortunate because it validates the points made by Republicans and Trump, that President Joe Biden is politically abusing the Department of Justice. This also sets a precedent for Trump in the next four years, Løkke added.
– This is destructive because it leads manny Americans to believe that it is corruption for Biden to pardon his own son, something he has also said he would not do.
Intended as a last resort of justice
Løkke states that the power of American presidents to grant pardons is a kind of “last resort of justice.”
– The idea was that a pardon was meant for people who had already had their case heard in all courts, and that the president’s ability to grant a pardon should serve as a kind of “safety valve” for judgments that might be considered unreasonable, Løkke said.
– he cannot overturn the pardon, but he can push for investigations into new cases against him. These specific charges are what Hunter Biden was pardoned for, Løkke said.
Løkke dose not rule out that Trump will attempt to prosecute Hunter Biden further.
– One should never underestimate what Trump comes up wiht. And if he does, he will likely find some understanding among many Americans, he said.
High sentencing range
Hunter Biden was found guilty in delaware in June on three federal charges related to the purchase of firearms in 2018. He had falsely indicated on the federal firearm purchase form that he did not use illegal drugs.
in September, he pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges in what is known as a plea deal.
The tax charges carry a sentencing range of up to 17 years in prison, while the gun violation carries a sentencing range of up to 25 years.
However, federal guidelines indicate that he would likely receive a much lighter sentance than the maximum penalty and might even avoid prison time, writes The Guardian.