U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) is disappointed that President Joe Biden has chosen to pardon his son Hunter Biden, the future senator announced Monday, a day after Biden’s pardon was made public.
Biden has repeatedly said he will not pardon his son, who faces prison time for federal gun crimes and tax convictions. But changing course Sunday night, Biden argued that the charges against his son were politically motivated.
Kim said he believes Biden’s pardon “only deepens the harmful assumption that the wealthy and well-connected play by a different set of rules.” Kim, who will head to the U.S. Senate in January, has made a name for himself by working outside the Democratic machine.
“I now hear from many people in New Jersey and elsewhere that politics is just an insider’s game that benefits a few over and above the everyday needs of Americans,” Kim continued. “… While as a father I can sympathize with President Biden’s family, as a citizen I am disappointed in his decision.”
Some of Pennsylvania’s Democratic congressional delegation had similar reactions to Kim later in the day.
U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, a Democrat whose district includes Chester County and part of Berks County, also said she was disappointed in Biden’s decision to pardon her son. She said she understands the “instinct to protect her family” and fears that President-elect Donald Trump will “use the power of his administration to punish his personal and political enemies.”
The president’s full pardon of his son dates back to 2014, which appears to have been intended to block potential fresh criminal prosecutions by the fresh administration’s Justice Department.
“I still believe that no one should be above the law, and I will continue to use my voice to call out this and other examples of unwarranted immunity from our justice system,” Houlahan added.
U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, a Democrat representing suburban Pittsburgh, also said he disagreed with Biden’s decision.
“People don’t trust our government when the rich and powerful get special treatment,” he said.
Others used the pardon as an opportunity to discuss clemency more broadly.
U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, a Democrat representing Philadelphia, said he believes Hunter Biden’s pardon is “the right thing to do.”
“I hope it will pave the way for pardons for other appropriate federal violent criminals as well, including lower-level drug offenders,” Evans added.
U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, a progressive Democrat who represents Pittsburgh, also expressed hope that Biden would utilize his power to issue pardons to people outside the family. Lee posted on X claiming it was true that the president’s son “faced harsh sentencing (and) unfair treatment… as did thousands of other people, including disproportionately black people.”
Lee shared an article published by Apel about an action in which she is taking part with 60 lawmakers, calling on Biden to pardon people she described as “the elderly, the chronically ill, people on death row (and) other people suffering injustice.”
Republicans sharply criticized the pardon, including U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, who represents Harrisburg, and U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, who represents the southwestern part of the state.
Perry said that “the corruption of the radical left knows no limits,” while – said Reschenthaler that Biden’s “time in public office for the crime family” ends in 50 days – and it can’t come soon enough.
On Monday, the remaining members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation remained quiet on the matter. Democratic Sens. John Fetterman and Bob Casey, as well as Republican Sen.-elect Dave McCormick, did not respond to requests for comment.
