OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Following President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter Biden, which both Biden and White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre have repeatedly stated would not occur, KJP confronted the media for the first time on Monday.
Jeane-Pierre was asked by a reporter if the American people “could be seen as lies” by those earlier remarks that denied a pardon.
“You have said repeatedly, yourself, since the election, and the president has said for months, no pardon was coming. I just — you know, I wanted to ask you, could those statements not be seen as lies from the American people? Is there really a credibility issue you’re giving now this announcement?” a reporter asked.
“No, no. First of all, one of the things that the president always believes is to be truthful to the American people,” Jean-Pierre began, immediately getting defensive.
“That is something that he always truly believes. And if you see the end of his — I — I assume that you’ve read his statement and you look at the end of that statement, and he actually says that in the first line in the last paragraph, and — and respects the thinking and how the American people will actually see this and his decision-making, and I would encourage everyone to read it full, the president’s statement. I think he lays out his thought process,” Jean-Pierre added.
She continued, “He lays out how he came to this decision. He came to this decision this weekend. So let’s be very clear about that. He says it himself. It’s in his voice. He said he came to this decision this weekend. And he said he wrestled with this and — because he believes in the justice system, but he also believes that the war politics infected the process and led to a — a — a miscarriage of justice.”
WATCH:
President-elect Donald Trump signaled plans to issue mass pardons for individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot and vowed to restructure the “Democrat-controlled” Department of Justice.
Trump made these remarks just over an hour after President Biden pardoned his son, Hunter, on Sunday night.
“Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
The president-elect is correct in his statement. Several people arrested on various charges nearly four years ago are being held without bond and still do not have court dates, which appears to be an obvious violation of the Sixth Amendment’s right to a speedy trial, among other guarantees.
Trump, who regained the White House last month, announced plans to pardon more than 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot—covering both those awaiting trial and those already convicted—during his campaign. This declaration came while Congress was in the midst of certifying President Biden’s victory in the 2020 election over Trump.
Earlier, Trump’s transition team released a statement that criticized the Justice Department and pledged to reform the federal agency, though the statement did not mention Biden or his son.
“The failed witch hunts against President Trump have proven that the Democrat-controlled DOJ and other radical prosecutors are guilty of weaponizing the justice system,” Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said. “That system of justice must be fixed and due process must be restored for all Americans, which is exactly what President Trump will do as he returns to the White House with an overwhelming mandate from the American people.”
Hunter, 54, is no longer facing sentencing for separate federal gun and tax evasion cases that were scheduled for later this month, the New York Post reported.
Hunter Biden pleaded guilty in September to nine counts related to evading $1.4 million in taxes and was convicted in June on three federal gun charges for possessing a firearm while addicted to crack cocaine.
Joe Biden asserted on Sunday that his son was “selectively and unfairly prosecuted” and issued a comprehensive pardon covering any offenses committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024. He initially pledged that he would not pardon his son.
