"The pardon of Hunter Biden — A mockery of the US legal system" Expert insights

US President Joe Biden signed a pardon for his son Hunter over two legal cases, despite multiple promises not to intervene. "Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter," reads a statement from the US leader, released by the White House press service on December 1. "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."

According to the statement, the cases are in the states of Delaware and California. In Delaware, Hunter Biden was charged with violations related to firearm possession. He was found guilty. In California, the president's son admitted to tax evasion.

US President-Elect Donald Trump has already stated that Joe Biden's decision to pardon his son Hunter is a glaring example of abuse and a violation of justice.

Indeed, one might wonder how such an action by the president (a member of the Democratic Party) aligns with democratic norms. Why did Biden openly make such a questionable decision? Could it be that he reasoned he had nothing to lose, no longer needing to run for office, and thus willing to sacrifice his political image for personal purposes?

Western commentators have shared their thoughts on this matter with Caliber.Az.

American political analyst Andrew Korybko explains that while everything Biden did is legal, it is scandalous because he pardoned his own son and granted him immunity for any federal crimes he may have committed between 2014 and 2024.

"This time frame is significant because Hunter served on the board of directors of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma from 2014 to 2019, which raised suspicions about his family's ties to the Ukrainian government. Trump and his allies suspect that Hunter was involved in corruption and that this influenced Biden's current support for Ukraine.

Biden hopes to complicate any investigation into Hunter's connections with the Ukrainian government that Trump could initiate if he succeeds in freezing or ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict. There is also a personal element, since Hunter is his own son, but as I mentioned, foreign policy concerns may outweigh this. Democrats are worried that Republicans will uncover evidence that Hunter was involved in corruption at Burisma and that it influenced Biden's support for Ukraine," the expert stated.

According to him, Biden's political image had already been tarnished due to his one-sided support for Israel in its war with Hamas, as well as his decision to run for re-election despite his evident frailty.

"This led to Kamala replacing him midway through the campaign and contributed to the historic defeat of the Democrats. In short, while there is a personal element to his latest decision, the real driving force was protecting his party from the potential investigation by Republicans into Hunter's possible corruption ties with the Ukrainian government," Korybko believes.

As noted by Dr. Greg Simons, a political scientist (Sweden), this is indeed a very "juicy" topic, though not all that surprising.

"What Biden did clearly points to the level of corruption, utter contempt for the citizens, and complete disregard for the rule of law. Since the 2024 election cycle, the Democrats, as a thoroughly corrupt political institution, have shown voters why they cannot be trusted and why they should not be allowed near power. This is a monumental legal and moral mistake by Biden, approved by the Democratic Party, given its silence on the matter. It is also highly symptomatic of an empire in the late stages of decay," the analyst accuses.

He believes that with Biden, everything is now clear – he is a corrupt, self-serving politician in the final stages of cognitive decline.

"This move of his is yet another argument for all those typically voting Democrat who changed their preferences during the electoral humiliation, and likely a source of regret for those who considered casting their vote for Republicans but didn't do so. The greatest significance of Biden's latest action is that such open corruption and dirty politics are usually done in secret. But now it was done completely openly, mocking the legal and political system of the United States," concluded Dr. Simons.