ABC’s The View co-hosts attempted to justify President Joe Biden’s sweeping pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, during Monday’s broadcast, presenting the controversial decision as necessary to shield Hunter from alleged political retaliation by President-elect Donald Trump.
The pardon, issued Sunday, absolves Hunter Biden of all current charges and any future offenses related to his alleged tax fraud, gun law violations, and potential wrongdoing during his time with the Ukrainian energy company Burisma. Critics have called the move unprecedented, arguing it undermines justice and grants Hunter Biden preferential treatment.
Co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Ana Navarro claimed Biden reluctantly issued the pardon to protect Hunter from what they described as Trump’s “retribution and vindictiveness.” Navarro stated, “Joe Biden could not leave his son at the mercy of these people who are saying they’re going to take retribution.”
Goldberg asserted that Biden initially had no intention of pardoning Hunter but changed course as legal and political pressures mounted. She defended Biden’s decision, saying, “He can do whatever he wants to because he is the president of the United States.”
The hosts equated Hunter Biden’s pardon to Trump’s 2020 pardon of Charles Kushner, Ivanka Trump’s father-in-law, who had been convicted of tax fraud in 2004. Sunny Hostin argued that Hunter Biden’s prosecution stemmed from his last name, claiming, “The only reason Hunter Biden was charged is because his dad’s name wasn’t Joe Smith—it was Joe Biden.”
Alyssa Farah Griffin pushed back, warning that such actions contribute to the perception that the justice system benefits elites. She criticized the White House for previously insisting Hunter would not receive a pardon.
Hunter Biden’s pardon has drawn backlash from Republicans and some legal experts. Critics argue the blanket pardon sets a dangerous precedent, shielding politically connected individuals from accountability.
President-elect Trump condemned the pardon on Truth Social, calling it an “abuse and miscarriage of justice.” Trump has vowed to review the Hunter Biden case and broader allegations of corruption tied to the Biden family when he assumes office.
The pardon has sparked ongoing debate over its implications for fairness and integrity in the nation’s justice system.
