Trump Supporters Call For J6 Pardons After Hunter Biden Clemency
Supporters of President-elect Donald Trump are advocating for pardons for individuals convicted in connection with the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. They cite President Joe Biden's recent decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, as a precedent for their demand.
According to Newsweek, Biden’s announcement on Sunday marked a reversal of his earlier public stance against intervening in Hunter's legal matters. The pardon spares Hunter from facing a prison sentence related to federal felony gun and tax convictions.
"The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election," Biden stated in a release on Sunday evening. "No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son – and that is wrong.
"I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice. I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision."
Trump supporters have since flooded social media, urging him to pardon those convicted of crimes related to the Capitol riot once he assumes the presidency in January. These convictions range from misdemeanors, such as trespassing, to serious felonies, including seditious conspiracy and assaulting police officers.
"Trump should pardon every single January 6th defendant on his first day in office. All of them," Clay Travis posted on X.
Benny Johnson echoed this sentiment, stating: "Joe Biden just pardoned his son, Hunter. Raise your hand if you think Donald Trump should issue a full pardon to all peaceful January 6th protesters who have had their Constitutional rights violated by the Biden administration on DAY ONE."
Trump himself commented on the issue: "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!"
Hunter Biden has been under investigation by at least two House committees for nearly two years. House Republicans allege they have uncovered evidence of illegal activities involving the president, stretching back to their dealings in Ukraine during the Obama administration.
In response, a Trump spokesperson emphasized that Trump plans to reform the "Democrat-controlled" Department of Justice.
"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," Steven Cheung stated to Newsweek. "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."
Previously, Trump had pledged to consider pardons for those connected to the Capitol riot. "I am inclined to pardon many of them. I can’t say for every single one because a couple of them, probably, they got out of control," he remarked during a CNN town hall in May 2023.
President Biden had previously declared he would not pardon or commute Hunter's sentence. However, this recent decision comes just weeks before Hunter was scheduled for sentencing on gun charges and tax violations, and less than two months before Trump is set to take office.
The pardon concludes a drawn-out legal ordeal for Hunter, who first disclosed in December 2020—shortly after his father’s election victory—that he was under federal investigation. This decision, Newsweek noted, adds a polarizing chapter to President Biden’s legacy.