President Pardons Son - As Law Professor Had Predicted

WASHINGTON - Dec. 2, 2024 - PRLog -- President Joe Biden issued a full and unconditional pardon of his son Hunter on Sunday night; a move which had been predicted many times - and as recently as last month - by public interest law professor John Banzhaf.

Ironically, it was Banzhaf who helped to scuttle the "sweetheart" plea deal which had been agreed to, and which would have given Hunter the same protections - but without the expenses and anguish of having to defend himself in court.

While the decision to pardon his son is easy to understand, the stated reason seems unsatisfactory to many.  The President said he took this action because the charges against Hunter were politically motivated and designed to hurt him politically.

However, as the New York Times noted, "It was a remarkable turnaround for a man whose presidency and five-decade career was built in part on the idea that he would never interfere with the administration of justice. "

It also contradicts promises he repeatedly made not to pardon - or to commute any sentences - for his son, notes Banzhaf, especially since the factors or reasons he cites were known to him at the time he made the promises.

Biden would have been much better off if he had simply said that he changed his mind only when there were threats that Hunter would be beaten if not killed once he entered prison; a little white lie which could have spared him much of the embarrassment of having to break his repeated promise based upon reasons which were known to him at the time he made them.

Banzhaf had also suggested that the President could somewhat reduce the criticism for breaking his promises simply to benefit a family member by issuing, at the same time, a full and unconditional pardon to Donald Trump - especially since Trump, once he takes office, could pardon himself, or have his own attorney general take care of the matter for him.

Banzhaf, who is clearly no supporter of Trump - since he filed the criminal complaint which led to Trump's RICO indictment in Georgia - says that Biden could pardon Trump, not because he necessarily is deserving of it, but for the same reasons Ford pardoned Nixon; in an effort to help heal a divided country.

Banzhaf suggests that the country today seems to be much more divided than when he played a role in having Nixon investigated by two special prosecutors, so a pardon for Trump might be even more important in trying to unite us.  Moreover, pardoning both Hunter and Trump at the same time might make him seem more even handed and balanced.

http://banzhaf.net/   jbanzhaf3ATgmail.com   @profbanzhaf