Republican senator says Trump should not pardon Hunter Biden
Senator Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, has made it clear that he believes President-elect Trump should not offer a pardon to Hunter Biden, despite Biden pleading guilty to federal tax charges in September. Johnson expressed his concerns about creating a dual system of justice where the powerful, or their family members, are able to evade consequences for their actions.
Alongside Senator Chuck Grassley, Johnson has been at the forefront of the Senate GOP’s investigations into allegations of corruption surrounding the Biden family. He has criticized the Biden administration’s Justice Department for allegedly handling Hunter Biden’s alleged crimes with leniency, while simultaneously accusing the investigations into former President Trump of being politically motivated.
Despite his opposition to pardoning Hunter Biden, Johnson did suggest that Trump could consider commuting or reducing Hunter’s sentence as a gesture of goodwill and an effort to unify the country. He stated, “I could see possibly commuting the sentence, reducing it, and it wouldn’t surprise me if President Trump would do that. I would not pardon Hunter. I would certainly not. I wouldn’t scream about commuting his sentence or reducing it in some way, shape or form.”
Hunter Biden was indicted on multiple felony and misdemeanor counts related to tax evasion, with prosecutors alleging that he failed to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes while spending lavishly on personal expenses. The indictment also accused Hunter of falsely claiming personal expenses as deductible business expenses in an attempt to evade taxes.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated that President Biden has no intention of pardoning his son before leaving office. Trump himself had previously floated the idea of a pardon or commuted sentence for Hunter Biden in a radio interview, acknowledging Hunter’s wrongdoing but expressing concern about the impact on the country.
In conclusion, Senator Ron Johnson’s stance on not pardoning Hunter Biden reflects his commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring accountability for all individuals, regardless of their status or connections. The ongoing discussions surrounding Hunter Biden’s legal troubles highlight the complexities of justice and the need for fair and impartial treatment under the law.
