However they got there, that does not affect whether you think it is A, B, C or D. You are just using this thread to bash Trump which does not enter into the question asked.
I think that President Biden will pardon his son, if necessary. I also believe that he should pardon his son. The pardon power is, in my view, intended to correct a miscarriage of justice. The overly aggressive prosecution of Hunter Biden is just such a miscarriage of justice. That does not excuse Hunter from his misdeeds. However, as I understand it, the consequences typically meted out for these misdeeds are not as severe as those he currently faces. He is only in this pickle because his last name is Biden (well, that and having actually committed the illegal acts in the first place).
I don’t know if he should, but if Hunter is given an excessive sentence or punishment, I think Joe will act.
Moderating:
You’ve crossed into junior modding here.
Reasonable minds can differ about the extent to which Joe Biden’s choice to pardon his son is influenced by how Trump and his supporters will politicize it, so if someone feels this is part of Biden’s calculus in issuing a pardon, it’s fair game to discuss it.
Please stop trying to direct the thread solely in a direction you wish it to go. If you feel someone is hijacking the thread, feel free to flag their post.
^This. Biden will be at pains to act only in conformity with established standards. If Hunter gets a disproportionate sentence, from a court action that falls outside the norms for crimes similar to his, then Biden will be very concerned to make all that clear. And any action he take will be targeted to addressing those disparities.
The last thing Joe wants is to do something Donald would do–namely, give a full pardon in a situation in which a crime (however relatively mild) has been committed.
Every President has done that. Even Biden has with the worst 2 being:
Betty Jo Bogans intent to distribute over 700 of cocaine
Beverly Ann Ibn-Tamas 2nd degree murder
Yes, if Hunter gets no jail but fine only, there is no chance of a pardon. Would this hurt his future? Got me hanging. Probably not. Being a felon is a huge disadvantage to entry-level positions; [cynic] it’s probably an advantage for certain corporate positions.[/cynic]
This sentence confuses me. Aren’t virtually all pardons given in situations in which federal crimes - usually felonies - have been committed?
I searched a bunch of Biden pardons. All of them were full pardons. Some had conditions, as did this one for Amin Hazendaneh, but crimes and pardons go together.
There is nothing for Biden to lose in a full and unconditional pardon for his son either on 1/19/24 if he loses the election or in his second term. So the right-wing media goes crazy. They will go crazy every single day of his second term in any case. And if he doesn’t, he’s a fool, because Trump has already vowed to issue hundreds of pardons, none of which the right-wing media will vilify. Pardoning Hunter is a complete win-win.
There’s nothing for him to lose politically after the election. But good politicians care about things other than just political optics. I don’t think he’ll give his son a full pardon because I think he’ll think it’s the wrong thing to do.
There is no way I’d let my kid go to prison for 17 years for something that is only happening because of me.
He already had a deal worked out.
He’s already paid back all the money.
It is my understanding that the punishment they are seeking is not normal.
Sure, if convicted of a federal felony, even if no jail time he could be pardoned.
Exactly.
True.
But there is something for the Democratic Party to lose politically. And Joe cares about that.
However, I see one situation in which Joe pardons Hunter. And it is all too likely. It’s the situation where Trump wins next November and reiterates threats to lock up the Biden crime family. Under those circumstances, Joe has some cover to pardon Hunter. And he might as well also pardon any other family member Trump is then threatening by name, other than himself.
If I were Biden in this situation, not only would I be pardoning every member of my family, I’d also be shipping them out to some other country. No way would I trust Trump to honor a pardon. The pardons would ensure that they were cleared for international travel in the period before Trump takes over.
All of this, for the reasons given. Biden won’t pardon Hunter (or commute his sentence) if the verdict and sentence are reasonably in line with precedent. If Hunter gets a blatantly disproportionate sentence, Joe may take action to bring into line with that precedent.
Emigrating is not so simple, even for the rich. If Hunter went to a country where you can buy a permanent residence permit, he would be trapped there until U.S. sanctions made them give him up. If Hunter made an asylum claim, the U.S. government would pressure the receiving nation to deny it.
We, just like the Bidens, should remain in America to peacefully resist Trump administration outrages, not run away. My country right or wrong, and if wrong to make it right.
This isn’t to criticize emigration. But if you emigrate, you should then be trying to build up your new country. By fleeing, Hunter would be damaging his new home – and likely become very unpopular there because of it.
That’s one of those things that sound great in theory, but when it’s you being thrown in prison, it’s a bit harder to live up to the ideal. And when you’re being thrown in prison not for what you’ve done, but because you’re related to someone that the president of your country is personally annoyed at, it’s even worse.
I’m sure there would be at least a few countries out there that would be willing to accept the Bidens as asylum seekers. And they have enough money that they wouldn’t be a burden to support.
Followup to an earlier question. Would be a convicted felon make him ineligible to emigrate to other countries?
Are you saying Hunter did not violate tax laws that would land others in prison? Just a fine and probation?
I thought that was pretty well established. Maybe it’s because I listen to pundits with left wing cooties (e.g., MSNBC), but that seems to be the expert consensus.
Or maybe I’m being wooshed.
I mean the other members of his family. Do you have any doubt that Trump will go after them all? Hell, they tried to tie Biden’s granddaughter into their claims of money laundering.