Not Like This Joe, Not Like This

Amid President Elect Trump’s selections of radical and unqualified candidates to cabinet and White House positions, President Joe Biden surprisingly pardoned his son Hunter Biden. Hunter was convicted in two Federal cases earlier this year.   He was found guilty of gun possession and lying on his gun application regarding his drug abuse. When asked, President Biden repeatedly responded no to the question of pardoning his son.

I am dissatisfied with Biden’s decision to pardon Hunter because Hunter was guilty, he committed the crimes.  The fact that the Republicans dug this skeleton out of the closet is disrespectful, but Hunter did commit the crimes.    Was Hunter deserving of a pardon? 

The President has yet to address the implementation of any policies to impact the innocent men and women serving time for crimes  they didn’t commit.     In a press conference regarding his decision to pardon his son, President Biden didn’t mention the cases where biased, racist judges wrongly convicted and sentenced people based on no or altered evidence to prove a case.  He didn’t mention the cases where law enforcement officials wrongly accused and withheld evidence or outright lied to deny someone their freedom. 

Biden failed to mention any changes to our justice system that will begin to make those that encounter it have fair and equitable outcomes rather than wasting away in a jail cell waiting for someone to realize their innocence.   It appears as if he didn’t think about the parents of the men and women that have been wrongfully accused and sit awaiting their day in court, their day when the evidence speaks for itself, the color of their skin and the caste system they belong to doesn’t matter.  These parents want their sons and daughters pardoned too. 

Biden’s pardon forces me to remember the caste system we continue to find ourselves in and the willingness of the entitled to flaunt their privilege to avoid the consequences of a reality that is only real for those without privilege.    I am fully aware of President Biden’s tenacity to fight for this country and some of its citizens.  I am fully aware of the lifetime of policies and relationships he has built during his lifetime of service.  However, it would be very short sighted for President Biden, not to use the minimal time he has left as President to make significant changes to the way those without privilege are treated by the Department of justice. 

Although President Biden has tried to make a positive difference for the citizens in this country during his career, leaving the office of President without using his son’s pardon as a pathway to make a substantial change to policies or at least try to pardon people that are innocent, tarnishes what was otherwise a stellar career.