The decision, which was first reported by NBC News, is a reversal for the president, who repeatedly said he would not use his authority to pardon his son or commute his sentence.

Summary

President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden, reversing his prior stance against using executive clemency.

The pardon covers Hunter’s federal gun conviction and tax evasion guilty plea, sparking political controversy.

Biden cited political attacks and a “miscarriage of justice” as reasons for his decision, emphasizing his son’s recovery from addiction and the targeting of his family.

Critics argue the move undermines the judicial process, while supporters view it as within Biden’s constitutional powers.

This decision shields Hunter from potential prison time as Biden nears the end of his presidency.

  • Saleh@feddit.org
    65·
    22 days ago

    Alcoholics shouldn’t be allowed near firearms either. And in the case of Hunter Biden we are talking about crack cocaine. I hope we can agree that crack addicts have a very different psychology from weed smokers. When it comes to drugs that are particularly problematic with firearms the list is lead by Meth, Crack and Alcohol. And Biden also was an alcoholic at the time.

    • ubergeek@lemmy.todayEnglish
      64·
      21 days ago

      Per the law, though, cannabis is far more dangerous than crack or non-crack cocaine.

      And, no, i don’t think cocaine users are subhuman, undeserving of the same civil rights everyone else has.

      And if they are addicted, we should give them the needed health care to solve that.

      • Saleh@feddit.org
        52·
        21 days ago

        The US Drug sheduling is absurd.

        People not being allowed to own and carry guns while being addicted to drugs doesn’t make them “subhuman”. And what the heck is wrong with Americans defining who is a human and who isn’t based on them having guns?

        Also i fail to see how owning guns is in any way relevant to access to healthcare. Should access to healthcare be exclusive to gun owners?

        The right to own guns should be dependent on having the full mental capacity and character to handle them responsibly. One of the effects of cocaine and even more so with crack cocaine is a boost to the own ego and removal of empathy towards others. People under the influence of cocaine are known to be more reckless and more violent than sober. Same with alcohol lowering peoples inhibitions and making them more violent and impulsive. These drugs shouldn’t be mixed with guns ever and it is insane to now defend this in order to defend Hunter Biden, just because he is a Biden.

        • ubergeek@lemmy.todayEnglish
          61·
          21 days ago

          The human right to keep and bear arms is in our constitution

          So, yes, abridging a right, to a class of people, is saying they are subhuman, and not deserving of the full spectrum of rights there for all humans.

          • Cleggory@lemmy.world
            13·
            21 days ago

            Yeah mental states should be irrelevant to the ability to tote guns, the most basic of human rights.

            Even infant children deserve human rights, give kids guns too!

            • ubergeek@lemmy.todayEnglish
              21·
              21 days ago

              Who judges these “mental states”? The state? So, like… in the 1980’s, gay people couldn’t own guns? Remember, it too, was a “mental disease”…

              • Cleggory@lemmy.world
                16·
                21 days ago

                Medical professionals have been making these judgements regarding those too mentally ill to hold guns.

                Instead it should be armchair professionals like yourself making such judgements.

                • ubergeek@lemmy.todayEnglish
                  21·
                  21 days ago

                  The same medical professionals who thought being gay was a mental illness?

                  How about nobody gets to pick and choose who gets what rights?