Even CNN is letting Biden hear it. Sheesh!
CNN’s Jake Tapper recently criticized President Joe Biden for pardoning his son, Hunter Biden, after repeatedly denying that such a move would take place. Tapper argued that this about-face reveals deeper issues within the Biden administration, calling the situation a “damning indictment” of the president’s leadership.
On Monday’s broadcast, Tapper contrasted Biden’s earlier statements, in which he and his surrogates denied any intention of issuing a pardon for Hunter, with NBC’s reporting that discussions about a potential pardon had been ongoing within the White House since June. Tapper pointed out that White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had been adamant in her repeated denials, creating a narrative of dishonesty that now raises questions about the integrity of the administration. “When Biden lies about something like this,” Tapper remarked, “it makes his administration and his allies either complicit or gullible.”
The timing of Biden’s pardon, Tapper suggested, was politically motivated. In June, Hunter Biden faced felony charges related to gun possession, and Biden was running for re-election against former President Donald Trump. The narrative that Hunter was being unfairly targeted for his father’s position was useful for Biden’s campaign, presenting a stark contrast between him and Trump. Tapper observed that Biden’s decision to grant the pardon, after previously promising he would not, undermines public trust in his administration.
Biden’s defenders, such as MSNBC’s Andrew Weissmann, had previously praised him for upholding the rule of law by not pardoning his son, but Tapper pointed out the hypocrisy in these claims. “Living the rule of law,” Tapper quipped, “is not about issuing pardons to your family, despite saying you wouldn’t.”
Furthermore, Tapper highlighted the tension between the president and his own Justice Department. Special Counsel David Weiss, who oversaw Hunter Biden’s legal case, affirmed that there was no evidence of “vindictive or selective prosecution,” contradicting Biden’s claims of political persecution. In the end, Tapper’s assessment suggests that the president’s actions, both in granting the pardon and in misleading the public, reflect a troubling pattern of inconsistency and potential corruption. For many Republicans, this kind of behavior further erodes faith in the fairness of the Biden administration and the credibility of its promises.