A Democratic congressman has predicted there will be more pardons to come from President Joe Biden.
Springing to Biden's defense Rep. Henry Cuellar told Newsweek in an exclusive interview: "I know family members have been pardoned in the past, so it's a prerogative of what the president can do."
President Biden's decision to pardon his son, Hunter, amid legal controversies has sparked fierce political debate, with Democrats and Republicans offering strong reactions to the implications of the move.
Cueller, who represents Texas 28th congressional district, which includes Converse, Laredo, Rio Grande City, and Universal City, added: "The president had said no, and then he said yes, so I guess the president can do pardons, and I assume he'll be doing other pardons before the end of the year, like other presidents have done in the past."
Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment.
In December, 2020, while President, Donald Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who was convicted of tax evasion and witness tampering and recently nominated by the President-elect as the U.S.'s ambassador to France.
President Bill Clinton signed 140 pardons on January 20, 2001—his final day in office. This included one for his younger half brother, Roger Clinton. A month after receiving a presidential pardon from his brother for a 1985 cocaine-possession and drug-trafficking conviction, Roger Clinton was arrested for drunken driving.
Biden issued a full and unconditional pardon for his son, Hunter, who was convicted earlier this year of illegally obtaining a firearm and failing to pay over $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019.
In a statement, President Biden said Hunter Biden was "singled out only because he is my son—and that is wrong."
The sweeping pardon also covers any other "offenses against the United States which he has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024."
The president repeatedly said that he would not offer his son clemency or interfere with the decision-making process of the Justice Department.
Trump reacted to the move, which Biden had said previously he wouldn't make, via Truth Social.
"Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years?" Trump wrote on social media.
"Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!"
Republican lawmakers have attacked Biden over his decision.
"You've been lied to every step of the way by this administration and the corrupt Biden family. This is just the latest in their long cover-up scheme. They never play by the same rules they force on everyone else. Disgraceful," GOP House majority leader Steve Scalise said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson reacted to the news and said Biden "insisted many times he would never pardon" his son.
Democrats have also lined up to criticize Biden following his controversial decision.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that Hunter Biden's pardon "is a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents."
"While as a father I certainly understand President @JoeBiden's natural desire to help his son by pardoning him, I am disappointed that he put his family ahead of the country.
"This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation. When you become President, your role is Pater familias of the nation.
"Hunter brought the legal trouble he faced on himself, and one can sympathize with his struggles while also acknowledging that no one is above the law, not a President and not a President's son.
Democratic congressman Greg Landsman, who just won reelection representing a swing district in Cincinnati, said on X: "As a father, I get it. But as someone who wants people to believe in public service again, it's a setback."
Democratic congressman Greg Stanton, who represents a swing district in Arizona, said, "I respect President Biden, but I think he got this one wrong. This wasn't a politically motivated prosecution. Hunter committed felonies and was convicted by a jury of his peers."
Meanwhile, former Watergate prosecutor Jill Wine-Banks said she was "relieved and thrilled" that President Biden has pardoned his son, adding that the gun charges in particular against Hunter Biden should never have been brought.
Speaking to MSNBC, Wine-Banks said Hunter Biden would not have been prosecuted for his gun charges "but for his last name."
Hunter Biden was found guilty by a Delaware jury in June of illegally buying a gun while using drugs and lying on a government form about his drug use during the purchase in May 2018.
He denied the charges, arguing he was not an active drug user at the time he bought the firearm, as he had recently undergone a stint in rehab.
English (US) ·