Senator Ron Johnson isn’t mincing words when it comes to Hunter Biden and any potential presidential pardon. In his interview on Dan Abrams Live, Johnson made it clear that he doesn’t believe Hunter Biden should be let off the hook with a presidential pardon after his guilty plea on federal tax charges in September. Johnson’s stance? The justice system shouldn’t offer special treatment just because someone’s last name is Biden.
Johnson and Senator Chuck Grassley have been leading the GOP’s investigation into Hunter Biden’s alleged corruption and questionable business dealings that allegedly tie back to the family name. Johnson has consistently criticized the Justice Department’s handling of Hunter’s case, saying the Biden administration has gone soft on the president’s son. And with Hunter’s alleged tax evasion, drug use, and questionable spending laid out in his indictment, Johnson’s concern about a dual standard of justice feels especially relevant.
Let’s not forget that Hunter’s charges aren’t exactly your average “missed tax filing.” According to his December 2023 indictment, Hunter evaded over a million dollars in taxes while blowing money on “drugs, escorts, luxury hotels, exotic cars” – basically everything but the IRS. And as if that weren’t enough, prosecutors allege he claimed personal expenses like strip clubs and adult website subscriptions as deductible business expenses. It’s as if Hunter thought he could rewrite the tax code with a personal expense loophole just for him.
While Johnson opposes a full pardon, he hinted that Trump, if elected, might consider commuting or reducing Hunter’s sentence. Johnson suggested that a commutation, or at least a gesture to reduce the sentence, could show goodwill and help bridge divides in a politically divided country. But Johnson was clear: no pardon. A lighter sentence, maybe—but not a free pass.
Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., asserted that President-elect Donald Trump should not pardon first son Hunter Biden, saying it would set a “terrible example.” MORE: https://t.co/HvuWbSQ0Wj
https://t.co/oFZmRNIzeL— Rene Acosta (@Papochiquito) November 9, 2024
Interestingly, Trump himself hasn’t ruled out the idea of some clemency. In a recent interview with Hugh Hewitt, Trump admitted he wouldn’t “take it off the books” if it were in the country’s best interest, despite calling Hunter “a bad boy” and referencing the notorious “laptop from hell.” Trump, surprisingly, appeared open to considering a reduced sentence—not because he feels warmly toward Hunter, but because he thinks it could help move the country forward after years of divisive politics.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration’s response to the potential for a Hunter pardon has been a firm “no”—at least officially. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre continues to reiterate that Biden doesn’t plan to use his presidential power to shield his son from the consequences of his actions. Of course, that’s the current stance, but with this administration, who knows what could happen if political tides shift.
The White House reaffirmed that Hunter Biden will not receive a pardon from his father, even as Vice President Harris faces defeat, with no plans to change course despite the president nearing the end of his term. https://t.co/zPTskSxOnr
— The New York Sun (@NewYorkSun) November 10, 2024
Johnson’s message is clear: Hunter’s alleged misuse of the system is no small offense, and if the justice system is going to hold people accountable, it should start by not caving into a powerful family name. Whether Trump ultimately decides to play magnanimous unifier or stick to a harder line remains to be seen. But the GOP isn’t about to let Hunter off easy, and neither, it seems, are the American people.
