Bill Clinton has stepped into the conversation surrounding presidential pardons, using his experience to underscore the glaring differences between his decision to pardon his half-brother, Roger Clinton, and Joe Biden’s recent pardon of his son, Hunter Biden.
Speaking at the New York Times DealBook Summit, Clinton didn’t hold back in highlighting the distinction, even as he carefully avoided directly criticizing Biden, as reported by The Gateway Pundit[1].
Aug 19, 2024; Chicago, IL, USA; President Joe Biden embraces his son Hunter Biden as he is joined on stage after his speech by First Lady Jill Biden and other family members during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center. The DNC program will feature President Joe Biden and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during Monday’s ceremonies. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman-USA TODAY
Clinton reminded the audience that Roger’s pardon came only after he served time and cooperated with authorities in a broader effort to dismantle a criminal network.
“My brother did 14 months in the federal prison for something he did when he was 20,” Clinton explained.
“I supported it. He testified, told the truth about what he’d done when he had a drug problem, and helped to bring down a larger enterprise.”
Roger’s conviction stemmed from a 1985 drug case where he pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine.
The former president emphasized that his brother’s pardon was about restoring citizenship rights, like voting, which are stripped from felons. Unlike Hunter Biden, whose recent controversies have drawn comparisons, Clinton made it clear the two situations are far from identical.
“Somebody said, ‘Well, this is just like when Bill Clinton pardoned his brother.’ Well, it’s not,” Clinton declared.
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton speaks in support of the Democratic Harris/Walz presdiential campaign during a noon rally at Lavery Brewing Co. in Erie on Nov. 2, 2024.
“I think that the President did have reason to believe that the nature of the offenses involved were likely to produce far stronger adverse consequences for his son than they would for any normal person under the same circumstances.”
While urging the public to examine the facts before rushing to judgment, Clinton stopped short of delivering a full-throated critique of Biden’s pardon decision.
“But I would urge all of you to just look at the facts before you make a judgment and see what they’re talking about and what the context is. Which is because I’m still reading,” Clinton added.
BILL CLINTON: HUNTER’S PARDON IS NOTHING LIKE THE ONE I GAVE MY BROTHER
“Somebody said this is just like when Bill Clinton pardoned his brother.
Well, it’s not. My brother did 14 months in federal prison for something he did when he was 20, and I supported it.
Clinton’s comments highlight the unique challenges Biden faces as he navigates the fallout from pardoning his son amidst an already charged political climate.
While Clinton maintained his trademark diplomacy, his pointed contrast between the two cases left little room for misinterpretation: Roger’s pardon followed justice served; Hunter’s pardon, to many, appears shrouded in preferential treatment.
