LUANDA, Angola — On Tuesday, President Joe Biden sidestepped inquiries regarding his controversial decision to grant a pardon to his son, Hunter Biden. During his inaugural presidential visit to Angola, he chose to overlook the calls for clarification about this reversal while engaging with Angolan President João Lourenço at the presidential palace. When questions were shouted at him, Biden responded with laughter, welcoming the Angolan delegation by saying, “welcome to America.”
Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had informed the media that Biden was not scheduled to take questions from journalists during his trip to Africa. This comes as Biden has primarily shunned media interaction since Donald Trump’s election victory last month.
The decision to extend a blanket pardon to his son for actions spanning the past eleven years has ignited significant political backlash in Washington. This move is particularly striking considering the president’s previous statements where he insisted he would not exploit his presidential powers for familial benefits. Biden has also claimed that his own Justice Department carried out a “miscarriage of justice” in pursuing legal action against his son.
This change in stance faced stiff criticism, particularly among Democrats who are strategizing their response to Trump, set to assume the presidency in just seven weeks. Many are concerned that the pardon, along with Biden’s assertions regarding Hunter’s prosecution being politically motivated, might undermine their capacity to oppose the forthcoming president’s legal strategies. This situation could also obscure Biden’s legacy as he approaches his departure from office on January 20.
Earlier in June, as Hunter faced trial related to a gun charge in Delaware, Biden stated, “I abide by the jury decision. I will do that and I will not pardon him.” Furthermore, in July, Jean-Pierre affirmed emphatically, “It’s still a no. It will be a no. It is a no. And I don’t have anything else to add. Will he pardon his son? No.” Just days after Trump’s victory in November, she reiterated this position, stating, “Our answer stands, which is no.”
