Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has now reportedly expressed her endorsement of President Biden’s controversial decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden.
When questioned about the Hunter Biden pardon, Pelosi backed Biden’s decision in remarks she gave on Wednesday.
“The pardon, yes.” Pelosi said.
The former Speaker’s remarks are in stark contrast to those of a significant number of Democrats on Capitol Hill and beyond who have criticized President Biden’s action.
Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) denounced the commutation as “reprehensible,” and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) concurred, in addition to numerous other figures in both parties who condemned the move.
A “full and unconditional pardon” for his son was declared by the president on Sunday night, causing a shockwave throughout Washington.
It was a significant turnabout for the White House, which had maintained for months that the president would not commute Hunter Biden’s sentence or pardon him.
Hunter Biden, who was the subject of intense scrutiny from Republicans who at times promoted unproven claims about him, was scheduled to be sentenced this month on tax and gun charges.
Pelosi’s posture is also noteworthy in light of the circumstances surrounding President Biden’s decision to withdraw his reelection campaign this summer.
Pelosi was among the Democrats who were working behind the scenes to encourage Biden to abandon his presidential campaign.
In a subsequent interview with the New York Times following the election, she expressed her desire for Biden to withdraw from the campaign sooner in order to facilitate an open primary process to select his successor.
The current leader of the House Democratic Caucus, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), responded to Biden’s pardon on Tuesday by advocating for additional pardons for nonviolent offenses.
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