Bravo, President Biden for taking a rational and rightful action Sunday in issuing a “full and unconditional pardon” to his son Hunter, thus shielding him from what was expected to be a vicious attack by Donald Trump’s administration following inauguration day.
Now, Biden has 50 more days to issue countless more pardons to officials and politicians who Trump has disparaged “to avoid Russian-style show trials … to chop off Trump’s vile retribution action before it can poison our nation,” as I wrote November 14.
Much of Biden’s legislative and diplomatic legacies Trump will try to dismantle. Trump has already shown he does not abide by the rule of law, has no devotion to institutions foreign and domestic, has no boundaries in his demeanor and execution of personal aggrandizement.
My list of those Biden should pardon is not meant to be exhaustive. But it is worth repeating here:
Special counsel Jack Smith and his entire legal team;
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her legal team;
Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss;
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger;
New York Attorney General Letitia James;
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg;
New York Judge Juan Merchan;
Attorney General Merrick Garland;
Retired generals, admirals and cabinet members who criticized Trump, including John Kelly, Mark A. Milley, James Mattis, H.R. McMaster, Stanley McChrystal, Mark Esper, Mike Mullen, James Stavridis;
Former diplomats, law enforcement and intelligence officials including John Bolton, John Brennan, James Robert Clapper Jr., James Comey, Susan Rice;
Witnesses against Trump including Cassidy Jacqueline Hutchinson, Alexander Vindman;
Former Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger;
Former Vice President Dick Cheney;
Senator-elect Adam Schiff;
Maryland Representative Jamie Raskin; Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton;
Dr. Anthony Fauci;
Former President Barack and Michelle Obama;
Hunter Biden;
James and Francis Biden;
And finally, Himself.
