Two of California’s most prominent Democrats have harshly criticized President Biden’s controversial pardon for his son Hunter, with Sen.-elect Adam B. Schiff and Gov. Gavin Newsom expressing disappointment Tuesday.
“Given everything the president and his family have been through, the instinct to want to protect Hunter is completely understandable. But I took the president at his word,” Newsom said. told Politicobefore issuing the massive pardon grant on Sunday, cited the fact that Biden had repeatedly and explicitly vowed in recent months not to pardon his son. “So, understandably, I am disappointed and cannot support this decision.”
The break with the outgoing president was significant for the governor, who served as a powerful surrogate for Biden’s 2024 presidential bid before withdrawing his bid for re-election. Newsom vocally defended Biden as others questioned his age and abilities.
Schiff will be sworn in as California’s next U.S. senator on Monday. KQED interview He said he was “deeply disappointed” in the pardon.
Schiff told a Northern California radio station that the pardon would set a “bad precedent” that “certainly will be abused and will probably be abused by the next president in the near future.” He said he was concerned about this. who already cited it in connection with his desire to pardon the Jan. 6 attackers, the people who punched police officers and sprayed them with bear spray. ”
Spokespeople for Mr. Schiff and Mr. Newsom declined further comment to the Times.
Biden on Sunday granted the 54-year-old Hunter Biden a 54-year-old pardon as part of a broader pardon for crimes he “committed or may have participated in” between Jan. 1 and Dec. 1, 2014. He granted his son a “complete and unconditional” pardon. , 2024. Hunter Biden was previously convicted by a jury in Delaware of illegally purchasing a handgun and pleaded guilty to tax charges in Los Angeles.
California Sen. Alex Padilla, speaking in a softer tone than Mr. Schiff and Mr. Newsom, said in an interview with Jen Psaki on MSNBC Monday night that Mr. I’m surprised because she kept saying she wouldn’t forgive her son.” He said, “I didn’t know if I would make the kind of decisions he announced.”
The Californian wasn’t the only prominent Democrat to criticize Biden’s choices. Opposition included Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, who wrote he was “disappointed” that Biden “put family before country,” and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.). characterized the decision as one that “placed personal interest above duty.”
