White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday that Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) played a key role in convincing President Biden to pardon his son Hunter.
Mr Jean-Pierre claimed that Mr Biden, 82, had “agonized” over whether to pardon his son for all crimes committed between 2014 and 2024, but the visit from Mr Clyburn, 84, weighed in the balance. He claimed that he led the president to step down. Back to his repeated promises not to do so.
“You've heard this president say it many times before. He's a beginning and a middle ground when it comes to his family and how he moves forward and thinking about his family. , I believe it's over,'' Pierre said.
“And he struggled with this. It wasn't an easy decision for him to make.”
A federal jury found that Hunter, 54, who made false statements on a gun purchase form in 2018, was not using or dependent on drugs, even though he actually had a crack cocaine habit at the time. He was convicted of three felonies in June.
A sentencing hearing in the case was scheduled for Dec. 12.
Clyburn, who has long had President Biden's ear, met with the lame-duck commander in chief two weeks ago and asked for a pardon for Hunter, Jean-Pierre said.
“These are Clyburn's words: 'The president was reticent' when he tried to recommend a pardon for Hunter. … I think this is important to note,” the White House press secretary said.
Jean-Pierre referenced the conversation between Biden and Clyburn multiple times during the press conference, suggesting it was a major turning point for the president to revisit and reflect on his promises to the American people.
Since Hunter's pardon, Clyburn has called on the administration to grant more pardons before he leaves office.
South Carolina Democrats said Friday they have asked White House officials to persuade Biden to grant pre-emptive pardons to several current and former government officials, fearing they could be targeted by President-elect Donald Trump. revealed.
“I also told him that I thought he should go further because of all the noise about Jack Smith, Liz Cheney, Dr. Fauci, etc.,” said Clyburn, a special director who prosecuted Trump's federal case. He mentioned prosecutors and talked about Trump, a former Republican. Wyoming congressman and former coronavirus czar Anthony Fauci co-chaired the House Jan. 6 investigative committee.
Multiple media outlets reported this week that White House officials are discussing the need for Biden to issue such preemptive pardons to prevent possible investigations and prosecutions of Trump's critics.
Incoming U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and retired Gen. Mark Milley have also been floated as possible candidates for pardons.
Mr. Clyburn signaled this week that he would support Mr. Biden even if Mr. Trump pardoned him before he entered the Oval Office.
Asked about Trump's support for a pardon, Clyburn told CNN, “Yes, absolutely.” “This is because the Supreme Court has made it almost clear that Trump will pre-emptively pardon anything he does as president.”
Trump, 78, was found guilty of criminal fraud in the New York hush-money case involving porn star Stormy Daniels, but a judge ruled in light of police returning to the White House. Judgment has been postponed while the case is considered whether to proceed.
