Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) is raising alarms over President Biden’s decision to grant a pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, calling it a significant moment to rethink the presidential pardon power embedded in the Constitution.
“As a father myself and as someone who knows Joe Biden I can sympathize with his perspective,” Connolly noted during an appearance on CNN. “Having said that, what other father in America has power to pardon his son or daughter if they’re convicted of a crime?”
He went on to say, “I really think we have to revisit the pardon power in the Constitution. At the very least, we’ve got to circumscribe it so that you don’t get to pardon relatives, even if you believe passionately that they’re innocent or their cause is just.”
Connolly also compared the situation to former President Trump’s earlier decision to pardon Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner.
He labeled Trump’s pardon of the recently nominated U.S. ambassador to France, a blatant “abuse of power.”
Connolly suggested that the broad and unchecked nature of the pardon power needs reform, and suggested the idea of introducing a constitutional amendment to clearly outline its limits.
Despite claiming he wouldn’t for months, Biden granted a “full and unconditional” pardon last Sunday to his 54-year-old son on Sunday.
The former addict first son pleaded guilty in June to three federal felony charges tied to his purchase and possession of a firearm in 2018 while concealing drug use.
Additionally, he admitted guilt to nine federal tax violations in September, dodging a trial but facing a sentencing hearing next week.
The move has sparked bipartisan criticism, with several Senate Democrats speaking out against Biden’s decision. They argued the action undermines trust in the government and sets a dangerous precedent.
“President Biden’s decision put personal interest ahead of duty and further erodes Americans’ faith that the justice system is fair and equal for all,” Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Similarly, Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) described the pardon as “wrong,” stating, “A president’s family and allies shouldn’t get special treatment,” Peters said in his own X post on Monday. “This was an improper use of power, it erodes trust in our government, and it emboldens others to bend justice to suit their interests.”
Adding to the dissent, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) shared in a written statement, “Presidents have the right to pardon who they want, but I fundamentally believe pardons should be used to right the wrongs of the past – not for family members or to hand out political favors.”
A fresh layer of scrutiny emerged as conservative commentators highlighted a potentially significant detail in the pardon document.
Covering Hunter Biden’s actions “from January 1, 2014, through December 1, 2024,” the pardon’s timeline triggered speculation that it extends beyond the specific crimes for which Hunter was recently convicted.
Critics tied the timeframe to Hunter’s controversial stint on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company, which began in 2014.
Conservative commentator Liz Wheeler blasted the move on X, asserting, “’By pardoning Hunter for any crimes he “may have committed” from 2014-2024, Joe Biden is protecting his family’s criminal cartel.”
She also took aim at Biden for safeguarding his son from legal trouble under a new FBI administration, stating, “The Big Guy is protecting himself from Kash Patel.”
The phrase “Big Guy” famously entered the spotlight after Hunter referred to his father with that moniker in a 2017 email connected to a multimillion-dollar business deal that allegedly benefited the Biden family.
