On December 1, President Joe Biden granted a full, unconditional pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, for any federal offenses committed from January 1, 2014, through December 1, 2024. The announcement came just weeks before his departure from the White House.
NBC News’ chief political analyst, Chuck Todd, responded to the pardon with sharp criticism, questioning the president’s emotional readiness for the office. Todd suggested that Biden was “emotionally incapable of being president and probably never should have run.”
In a video shared by CNN’s Chris Cillizza, Todd took issue with Biden’s decision to pardon his son, who was due for sentencing on federal charges related to gun possession and tax evasion. Todd, former host of Meet the Press, also criticized Biden’s decision to run for office.
Todd attributed the current state of the party and the nation to Biden’s decision to run for presidency, especially considering Donald Trump’s reelection. He suggested that Biden’s decision was propelled by personal motives.
The pardon ensures that Hunter Biden will avoid prison time. He was facing sentencing for federal tax and gun convictions. The younger Biden had admitted guilt to three felony tax offenses and six misdemeanor tax offenses. These charges stemmed from a four-year period where he failed to pay at least $1.4 million in federal taxes.
In his defense, President Biden argued that his son was “selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted” and that the charges were politically motivated. He maintained that “raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice.”
This move is a major shift from Biden’s prior stance, which ruled out the possibility of pardoning his son to maintain the independence of the justice system.
Todd, who has a past personal relationship with the Bidens, labeled the president’s decision as “a huge mistake” that could lead people to question Biden’s dedication to public service.
The scope of the pardon is extensive, covering not just current charges but also potential crimes related to Hunter Biden’s contentious role on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma, a subject of longstanding Republican scrutiny.
The issuing of the pardon, just weeks before the transfer of power to President-elect Donald Trump, is noteworthy. Trump has long criticized Hunter Biden’s legal and personal challenges.
In response, Hunter Biden said he would never take the pardon for granted and pledged to commit his life to aiding those battling addiction.
The decision has elicited criticism from both sides of the aisle, with Democrats and Republicans arguing that it undermines the justice system.
Responses on social media varied, with some, particularly those leaning right, praising Todd’s comments, while others dismissed his critique. One user wrote, “Chuck Todd is full of sh** and now wants to call President Biden ‘selfish.’ His opinion is irrelevant now.”