California Governor Gavin Newsom has joined the chorus of Democratic voices criticizing Joe Biden for pardoning his son Hunter.
Speaking to Politico, Newsom said he was “disappointed” with the decision and could not support it.
“With everything the president and his family have been through, I completely understand the instinct to protect Hunter,” Newsom said, referring to the death of two of Biden’s children.
“But I took the president at his word,” he continued. “So by definition, I’m disappointed and can’t support the decision.”
Such comments are particularly telling given that Newsom has repeatedly refused to criticize Biden, despite the fact that he was a contender to replace him on the presidential ticket when he dropped out of the race back in July.
Newsom is far from the only senior Democrat to come out swinging against the outgoing president.
Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia told reporters on Monday that Biden had broken a promise to the American people.
“He didn’t need to tell the American public, ‘I will not do this,’ and he did,” Kaine said. “And when you make a promise, you got to keep it.”
Tim Kaine, Virginia Democratic senator, on President Biden giving Hunter a pardon after repeatedly saying he wouldn’t: “When you make a promise, you got to keep it.” pic.twitter.com/rqWVIAQOKX
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) December 3, 2024
Meanwhile, Democratic Senator for Colorado Michael Bennett accused Biden of putting his personal interest ahead of the country.
“President Biden’s decision put personal interest ahead of duty and further erodes Americans’ faith that the justice system is fair and equal for all,” he wrote on the X platform.
President Biden’s decision put personal interest ahead of duty and further erodes Americans’ faith that the justice system is fair and equal for all. https://t.co/xEuRjfNhZ0
— Michael Bennet (@SenatorBennet) December 2, 2024
In a statement on Sunday evening, Biden announced that would be going back on his word and would use his presidential authority to issue a pardon to his troubled son on any and all crimes he has committed over the past decade.
“No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son – and that is wrong,” Biden wrote.
“There has been an effort to break Hunter – who has been five and a half years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution.”
“In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me – and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here,” he continued. “Enough is enough.”
Needless to say, the Democratic Party’s civil war is only just beginning.
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