A father's love and presidential duty collide as Joe Biden grapples with mounting pressure to pardon his son Hunter before leaving office.
According to the Daily Mail, renowned journalist Bob Woodward predicts President Biden will ultimately pardon his son Hunter despite the White House's repeated denials of such intentions.
Woodward's prediction stems from his extensive reporting for his book War, in which he discovered the depth of Biden's anguish over his son's legal troubles.
Hunter Biden faces sentencing next month on multiple felony charges, including gun possession and tax fraud. The president's son was convicted of three felony charges related to a 2018 revolver purchase and later pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges.
The Constitution grants presidents unlimited pardoning authority for federal crimes under Article II, Section 2. This power has been wielded controversially by previous presidents, often during their final days in office. Gerald Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton's clemency for Marc Rich stand as notable examples of controversial presidential pardons.
American University professor Jeffrey Crouch, an expert on presidential pardons, emphasizes that presidents can exercise clemency powers without restriction. The main constraints are potential damage to their legacy and possible political consequences for their party. Donald Trump has not ruled out pardoning Hunter Biden if he wins the presidency.
Bob Woodward shared his insights on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, stating:
The issue of Hunter Biden is just ripping Joe Biden's heart out, and it is something he talks about with close friends. He worries about, where is this going to go? He has said he would not pardon him. There are a couple of trials coming up. Quite frankly, I know enough about Biden I don't believe that. I think he will pardon his son.
The president's concern for his son's well-being extends beyond legal matters. Sources close to the family suggest Biden fears Hunter might relapse into drug addiction under the mounting pressure of his legal challenges.
President Biden has shown public support for his son, notably flying to Wilmington after Hunter's conviction to embrace him before departing for a G7 summit in Italy.
Hunter Biden's sentencing is scheduled for December 13 in the Delaware gun case and December 16 in the California tax case. These dates fall after the 2024 election but before the end of Biden's term on January 20, 2025.
The president's options include a full pardon or sentence commutation, which are decisions he must make before leaving office. With Biden not seeking reelection, some argue the political risks of pardoning his son are minimized.
Hunter could face up to 25 years in prison for the gun charges and 17 years for tax crimes, though first-time offenders typically receive lighter sentences.
The pardon decision represents a defining moment in Biden's presidency. As a father, his instinct to protect his son conflicts with his role as the nation's leader and his previous statements against pardoning Hunter. The situation is further complicated by Hunter Biden's own concerns about the future. He recently expressed fears about a potential second Trump presidency, describing it as "potentially the end of America as we've known it."
