According to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, only 2 in 10 Americans approve of Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter in a sweeping, 10-year pardon for all crimes known and unknown.
From The New York Post:
That displeasure tracks with the bipartisan uproar in Washington that ignited over the president’s about-face. The survey found that a relatively small share of Americans “strongly” or “somewhat” approve of the pardon, which came after the younger Biden was convicted on gun and tax charges.
About half said they “strongly” or “somewhat” disapprove, and about 2 in 10 neither approve nor disapprove.
The Democratic president had said repeatedly that he would not use his pardon power for the benefit of his family, and the White House continued to insist, even after Republican Donald Trump’s election win in November, that Biden’s position had not changed — until it suddenly did.
“I know it’s not right to believe politicians as far as what they say compared to what they do, but he did explicitly say, ‘I will not pardon my son,’” said Peter Prestia, a 59-year-old Republican from Woodland Park, New Jersey, just west of New York City, who said he strongly disagreed with the move. “So, it’s just the fact that he went back on his word.”
Biden pardoned his son on December 1st, claiming his own DOJ had treated him unfairly.
“Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter,” the POTUS said earlier this month. “From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted. Without aggravating factors like use in a crime, multiple purchases, or buying a weapon as a straw purchaser, people are almost never brought to trial on felony charges solely for how they filled out a gun form. Those who were late paying their taxes because of serious addictions, but paid them back subsequently with interest and penalties, are typically given non-criminal resolutions. It is clear that Hunter was treated differently. “
