Should Trump pardon him?
Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin has made it clear that he believes President-elect Donald Trump should not offer a pardon to Hunter Biden, especially after Biden’s guilty plea to federal tax charges. In a recent interview on NewsNation’s “Dan Abrams Live”, Johnson stated, “I don’t think he should pardon Hunter,” emphasizing that such a move could send the wrong message about the fairness of the justice system.
Johnson, a staunch critic of the Biden administration, has long raised concerns about what he sees as a two-tiered justice system. He has been particularly vocal about the leniency shown toward Hunter Biden’s alleged criminal behavior, which he believes is part of a broader pattern of preferential treatment for the powerful and their families. As one of the leading figures behind the Senate GOP’s investigations into the Biden family’s business dealings, Johnson has often pointed out the apparent lack of accountability for Hunter, contrasting it with the aggressive investigations into President Trump.
While Johnson opposes a pardon for Hunter, he suggested that President Trump might consider commuting or reducing Hunter Biden’s sentence as a gesture of goodwill, in an effort to heal national divisions. “I might see potentially commuting the sentence, lowering it, and it would not surprise me if Trump would do that,” Johnson said, acknowledging that such a decision could be in the spirit of unity. However, Johnson was adamant that Hunter Biden should not be granted a full pardon, noting that the severity of his actions should not go unaddressed.
Hunter Biden, the president’s son, was indicted in late 2023 on charges of tax evasion, with allegations that he failed to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes. Prosecutors also accused him of falsely claiming personal expenses, including indulgences in drugs, luxury hotels, and even escort services, as business deductions. These charges are part of a broader investigation into Hunter Biden’s financial dealings, which many conservatives argue have been ignored or downplayed by the Justice Department.
On the question of a possible pardon, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has repeatedly stated that President Joe Biden has no intention of offering his son clemency, a stance she reiterated in late October. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has floated the idea of a pardon for Hunter Biden, suggesting that despite the “vicious” attacks he himself has faced, he sees such a move as potentially beneficial for the country.
For many Republicans, the ongoing investigation into Hunter Biden serves as a stark reminder of the discrepancies in how justice is applied to different political families. For Senator Johnson, it is vital that the integrity of the legal system remains intact, free from political favoritism, and that those who break the law, regardless of their connections, are held accountable.