The day after President-elect Trump announced that he was nominating lawyer-investigator Kashyap "Kash" Patel to serve as the next FBI director, President Biden made a startling announcement:
After repeatedly promising he wouldn’t pardon his son Hunter, stating that "no one is above the law," he gave Hunter the most controversial pardon in memory — a blanket pardon of all crimes that he may have committed, whether known or unknown.
The pardon covered the period from Jan. 1, 2014 (the year Hunter began serving on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company, while his father was vice president) until Dec. 1, 2024 (the date of the pardon) — 10 years, 11 months.
That period also covered the time in 2017 when Hunter threatened Raymond Zhao, an executive with CEFC China Energy.
Hunter told Zhao that he was "sitting" with his father and they "would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled," according to a July 30, 2017, WhatsApp message reported to Congress by IRS whistleblowers who were investigating Hunter’s finances.
"Tell the director that I would like to resolve this now before it gets out of hand, and now means tonight," Hunter told Zhao.
"And, Z, if I get a call or text from anyone involved in this other than you, Zhang or the chairman, I will make certain that between the man sitting next to me and every person he knows and my ability to forever hold a grudge that you will regret not following my direction."
It had all the earmarks of a criminal shakedown.
Observed Jonathan Turley, law professor at George Washington University, "His call to a Chinese businessman hardly speaks to being an innocent hounded by over-zealous prosecutors."
Not only was Hunter involved up to his neck in these sordid deals, but so was his uncle, Jim Biden, and his father, Joe Biden. It was Joe’s political influence, after all, that was up for sale, for which he reportedly received 10% as the "Big Guy."
Normally pardons, especially controversial pardons, are made during the president’s final days in office — or at least during a Friday night news dump prior to a long weekend.
This one was made on Sunday, the end of the long Thanksgiving weekend, suggesting that Hunter may have campaigned heavily for the pardon over the family’s turkey, dressing, and pumpkin pie.
But there may be more to it than Hunter. Some have suggested, beginning with Sean Davis, CEO and co-founder of The Federalist, that Jim and Joe’s own exposure may have been the real catalyst behind the pardon.
"Joe Biden didn’t just pardon Hunter for the gun crimes for which he was convicted noted Davis. "He pardoned Hunter for *EVERY SINGLE FEDERAL CRIME HE COMMITTED* over the last decade — including several years during which Joe Biden was VP and the entirety of Joe Biden’s presidency."
Author, podcaster and former OANN host Liz Wheeler made the same connection.
“Hunter Biden joined the board of Burisma in 2014," she observed.
"By pardoning Hunter for any crimes he 'may have committed' from 2014-2024, Joe Biden is protecting his family’s criminal cartel. Wow.
Wheeler concluded, "This pardon ain’t about the gun charge. The Big Guy is protecting himself from Kash Patel."
But the pardon may have created more problems than it solved.
Sure, it protects Hunter from all federal criminal charges he may have committed during a nearly 11-year period. But it also means that he can no longer claim Fifth Amendment protections if called to testify about his illegal activities during that period.
If he refuses to testify, he can be held in contempt and incarcerated until he talks.
If he testifies and lies, he can be found guilty of perjury and imprisoned.
If he truthfully testifies, he’s off the hook, but now his father Joe and his uncle Jim will likely be implicated.
David Friedman, ambassador to Israel during Trump’s first term, made the connection.
"I’m not sure that Joe Biden has fully considered the ramifications of his pardon of Hunter," he said.
"The pardon is extremely broad and covers activities while Joe was vice president. This means that Hunter cannot plead the Fifth if asked about his business dealings with Ukraine and China, including his Dad’s involvement, because, with his pardon, he has no risk of criminal jeopardy."
Joe Biden, never known for his intellect, once referred to Hunter, also no Einstein, as "the smartest man I know."
Eventually, someone may let the president know the gravity of his mistake.
And in that event, Hunter’s pardon will only be the second-most controversial pardon in memory.
The most controversial pardon will be when Joe pardons himself in the last days of his presidency.
Michael Dorstewitz is a retired lawyer and has been a frequent contributor to Newsmax. He is also a former U.S. Merchant Marine officer and a Second Amendment supporter. Read Michael Dorstewitz's Reports — More Here.
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