that The turkey might burn.
Outgoing President Biden granted presidential reprieve to poultry birds named Peach and Blossom on Monday in the traditional pre-Thanksgiving turkey pardon. That's because Hunter Biden, a two-time felon who has been working in the White House since last week, is still waiting on the situation. If only his father would grant him clemency.
Biden, 82, usually keeps the event light-hearted, but this year he has significantly downplayed the jokes, with a script that includes virtually no puns or humorous musings on current events, and a crowd on the lawn. All he did was ask the audience to “keep calm and devour.” Above. “
“I want to end on a more serious note,” Biden said. “This event marks the official start of the holiday season here in Washington. It's also the last time I'll be speaking here as president this season to express my gratitude. So let me tell you… Please, it was the honor of my life and I will always be grateful.”
Meat industry events generally sharpen the wheels of those seeking actual pardons. That includes an estimated 2,000 or more federal marijuana inmates who are still waiting for the president to fulfill his 2019 campaign promise as the days until their release dwindle.
“I hear 2,500 people are here today asking for pardons,” the president joked as he greeted attendees, without mentioning the promised pardons.
It's unclear whether Mr. Hunter, 54, who along with his eldest brother James Biden made millions from shady patrons in China and Ukraine while introducing clients to powerful relatives, attended.
However, Beau Jr., the eldest biological son, led his grandfather's hand in re-entering the White House.
Hunter was convicted of three drug-related gun felonies in June and is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to tax evasion in September, while his father had overseas business connections while Biden was vice president. His involvement spurred a separate impeachment inquiry in the House of Representatives against him. Charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress were laid, but the matter was not brought to a vote.
Although the president and his spokespeople have repeatedly denied pardoning Hunter, he could still pardon him or use his pardon power to commute his sentence.
President-elect Donald Trump also said last month that he was open to pardoning Hunter in order to turn the page on the political narrative.
“I'm not going to take it off the books,” Trump previously said, noting that during his first term he didn't press ahead with indicting Hillary Clinton on private server-related charges because it would be bad for the country. was.
“There's no question about it, he was a bad kid. All you had to do was look at the laptop from hell. But I happen to think it's very important for our country. “I think it's a bad thing,” Trump added.
Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are scheduled to travel to Staten Island late Monday for a “friend gift” event with the Coast Guard, before the extended family heads to Nantucket Island for a vacation on Tuesday. Rubenstein's compound.
