KJP Denies She, Biden Lied When Repeatedly Saying No Pardon For Hunter
Following President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden—despite repeated assurances from both Biden and White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre that such a pardon would not occur—Jean-Pierre faced reporters for the first time on Monday.
A reporter challenged her on whether earlier statements denying a pardon could now be seen as misleading to the American public.
“You have said repeatedly, yourself, since the election, and the president has said for months, no pardon was coming,” the reporter noted. “Could those statements now be seen as lies by the American people? Is there a credibility issue with this announcement?”
Jean-Pierre, appearing defensive, responded, “No, no. First of all, one of the things that the president always believes is to be truthful to the American people. That is something that he always truly believes.”
She urged reporters to read Biden’s full statement, pointing to the reasoning outlined in it. “If you see the end of his — I assume that you’ve read his statement. He actually says that in the first line in the last paragraph, and he respects the thinking and how the American people will actually see this and his decision-making,” she explained.
Jean-Pierre emphasized that Biden’s decision was made over the weekend after much deliberation. “He lays out how he came to this decision. He came to this decision this weekend. So let’s be very clear about that. He says it himself. It’s in his voice. He said he wrestled with this because he believes in the justice system, but he also believes that politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice.”
Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to issue sweeping pardons for individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot and pledged to overhaul what he referred to as the “Democrat-controlled” Department of Justice.
Trump made his remarks shortly after Biden pardoned Hunter on Sunday night.
“Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump’s comments highlighted ongoing controversies regarding the treatment of January 6 defendants. Several individuals arrested nearly four years ago remain in custody without bond or trial dates, raising concerns about potential violations of the Sixth Amendment’s guarantee of a speedy trial.
During his campaign, Trump had promised to pardon over 1,500 individuals connected to the Capitol riot, including those awaiting trial and those already convicted. This pledge followed Congress’s certification of President Biden’s 2020 election victory, which Trump had contested.
Trump’s transition team also released a statement condemning the Justice Department and pledging reforms, although it did not directly address Biden or Hunter.
“The failed witch hunts against President Trump have proven that the Democrat-controlled DOJ and other radical prosecutors are guilty of weaponizing the justice system,” Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung stated. “That system of justice must be fixed, and due process must be restored for all Americans, which is exactly what President Trump will do as he returns to the White House with an overwhelming mandate from the American people.”
Hunter Biden, 54, is no longer facing sentencing for federal gun and tax evasion cases initially scheduled for later this month, The New York Post reported.
In September, Hunter pleaded guilty to nine charges related to evading $1.4 million in taxes and was convicted in June on three federal gun charges for possessing a firearm while addicted to crack cocaine.
On Sunday, Joe Biden defended his decision to pardon his son, asserting that Hunter had been “selectively and unfairly prosecuted.” The pardon covers all offenses committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024. Biden’s earlier promise not to pardon his son has now drawn scrutiny.