Joe Biden’s final weeks as president unleashed a pardon frenzy, but only one bore his actual signature—for his son, Hunter. The move, shrouded in controversy, has ignited questions about ethics and mental fitness.
In December 2024, Biden granted over 1,500 pardons and clemency acts, including a blanket pardon for Hunter covering any U.S. offenses from 2014 to 2024. This followed Hunter’s guilty plea to federal tax crimes and convictions for felony gun offenses.
Fox News reported that the scale of clemency was unprecedented, but the personal touch on Hunter’s pardon stands out.
Hunter’s legal troubles stemmed from special counsel David Weiss’ probe, which uncovered tax evasion of at least $1.4 million and gun violations.
Biden’s preemptive pardons also shielded family members, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Gen. Mark Milley, and the Jan. 6 committee staff. Protecting his inner circle while Hunter dodged accountability raises eyebrows.
Unlike the 1,500-plus automated signatures, Biden hand-signed Hunter’s pardon, a choice now under Justice Department review.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, at President Trump’s direction, is probing whether aides used an autopen to mask Biden’s cognitive decline. The optics of a single handwritten pardon scream special treatment.
Trump has called Biden’s mental state a long-evident issue, claiming aides hid it by limiting his media exposure and scripting his words. The Justice Department even deemed Biden unfit for trial due to his mental condition. If true, this paints a troubling picture of who wielded power.
Biden defended his decision, saying, “I hope Americans will understand why a father and a president would come to this decision.” He claimed Hunter faced “unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution.” But shielding your son while slamming prosecutors smells like deflection, not principle.
Special Counsel Weiss fired back, calling Biden’s attacks on prosecutors “gratuitous and wrong.” He argued that maligning Justice Department staff undermines public trust in the system. Biden’s narrative of a witch hunt doesn’t hold up when the facts show Hunter’s guilty plea.
Weiss further stated, “Politicians who attack the decisions of career prosecutors as politically motivated when they disagree with the outcome of a case undermine the public's confidence.”
This isn’t just a family matter—it’s a direct challenge to judicial integrity. Biden’s words ring hollow against Weiss’ measured rebuke.
Trump labeled the autopen scandal “one of the most dangerous in American history,” alleging aides concealed who truly exercised executive power. He claimed Biden’s cognitive issues were “worse in private” and deliberately hidden. Such accusations demand answers, not dismissals.
Biden’s blanket pardon for Hunter covered a decade of potential crimes, a move that feels less like justice and more like a safety net. His claim of non-interference with the Justice Department, saying, “I kept my word,” crumbles under the weight of this blatant act. Actions, it turns out, speak louder than vows.
The Justice Department’s review of Biden’s pardons isn’t just about signatures—it’s about trust. If aides manipulated processes to hide a president’s incapacity, the implications shake the republic’s foundation. Transparency, not excuses, is what Americans deserve.
Trump’s push for an investigation reflects a broader conservative demand for accountability. The idea of unelected aides potentially steering the ship while Biden faltered is a constitutional red flag. It’s not about politics; it’s about who runs the show.
Biden’s clemency spree, while historic, is overshadowed by the Hunter pardon’s nature. Granting blanket immunity to family and allies while questioning prosecutors’ motives invites skepticism. It’s a legacy tarnished by self-interest, not fairness.
The contrast between Biden’s 1,500 autopen signatures and one handwritten pardon tells a story of priorities. Protecting Hunter while leaving others to the machine feels calculated, not compassionate. Americans see through the sleight of hand.
