President-elect Donald Trump has condemned President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter as an example of a justice system tilted by politics. Trump contrasted the move with the continued imprisonment of non-violent Jan. 6 protesters, whom he has vowed to pardon.
“Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!” Trump said in a statement Sunday night.
Hunter Biden’s pardon comes after he pleaded guilty to tax evasion and gun-related charges, with sentencing originally set for December. Biden defended the decision by accusing the justice system of being swayed by “raw politics,” calling his son’s prosecution a “miscarriage of justice.”
Trump and his supporters see a glaring disparity between the leniency shown toward Hunter and the harsh penalties imposed on Jan. 6 participants. Many protesters were convicted of minor offenses like trespassing, yet face years of imprisonment.
Critics of Biden’s DOJ have long pointed to a lack of action against BLM and Antifa rioters, who caused significant damage during the summer of 2020. Trump has repeatedly drawn attention to this perceived double standard, framing his own pledge to pardon Jan. 6 protesters as a step toward restoring fairness.
As Trump prepares to assume office, the controversy over Hunter Biden’s pardon adds fuel to his campaign narrative of an unequal justice system under Biden’s leadership.
