Politics is a brutal business. Honestly, if you've been following the news lately, you know that loyalty usually wins out over everything. But when President Joe Biden decided to pardon his son, Hunter, on a Sunday night in December 2024, that loyalty hit a brick wall. This wasn't just another legal maneuver; it was a political earthquake.
The Biden son pardon democrats reaction has been anything but unified. It's a mess.
On one hand, you have the "family first" crowd. They say any father would do the same. On the other, you have lawmakers who feel like they’ve been left holding the bag after years of defending the "sanctity of the rule of law." Basically, Joe Biden spent four years telling America that the Department of Justice is sacred and that no one is above the law. Then, with one signature, he wiped out a decade of Hunter's potential legal liabilities—from 2014 to 2024.
The Public Outcry from Within the Ranks
It’s rare to see Democrats jump on their own leader like this. Usually, the party circles the wagons. Not this time.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis didn't hold back. He posted on X that while he gets the "natural desire" of a father to help his son, he was "disappointed" that Biden put family ahead of the country. Polis argued this sets a "bad precedent" that future presidents could easily abuse. He isn't alone. Senator Michael Bennet, also from Colorado, was even more blunt. He said the decision "further erodes Americans' faith that the justice system is fair and equal for all."
These aren't backbenchers. These are significant voices in the party.
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Then you have guys like Rep. Greg Stanton of Arizona. He’s been a vocal defender of the DOJ. He flat-out rejected Biden's claim that the prosecution was "raw politics." Stanton pointed out that Hunter was convicted by a jury of his peers for actual felonies. To him, saying the system was "infected" by politics—the very same argument Donald Trump uses—is a dangerous game for a Democrat to play.
The Defenders: "It Was a Hit Job"
Of course, not everyone is throwing stones at the White House.
Former Attorney General Eric Holder jumped into the fray to defend the move. His take? If Hunter’s last name had been "Smith," he never would have been charged in the first place. Holder basically argued that the five-year investigation was a politically motivated fishing expedition. Representative Jasmine Crockett from Texas also backed the President, essentially telling critics to "stop clutching their pearls" given the controversial figures Trump has pardoned in the past.
It’s a classic "whataboutism" struggle.
- The Argument for the Pardon: Hunter was "singled out" because of his father. The charges (tax evasion and gun possession) are rarely prosecuted to this extent for first-time offenders.
- The Argument against the Pardon: Biden gave his word. Multiple times. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said "no" so many times it became a meme. Breaking that promise makes the party look hypocritical.
Why the Timing Matters So Much
The timing of this pardon—coming right after the November election losses—is a salt-in-the-wound moment for many.
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Democrats are currently trying to figure out how to oppose a second Trump term. Their main weapon has always been the "defense of norms." But how do you defend norms when your own guy just shattered a major one?
Senator Peter Welch summed it up perfectly when he called the move "unwise." He noted that as a father, it’s understandable, but as the Chief Executive, it’s a disaster for the party's branding. They’ve spent years calling Trump a threat to democracy for his use of the pardon power. Now, the "moral high ground" feels a lot more like a sinkhole.
The Polling Reality
If you think this is just "inside baseball" for D.C. elites, look at the numbers. An AP-NORC poll taken shortly after the announcement showed that only about 38% of Democrats actually approved of the pardon. That’s remarkably low for a base that usually sticks by its leader.
Among the general public? It’s even worse. Only about 2 in 10 Americans supported the move.
When your own voters are split 38-27 on whether you did the right thing, you know you’ve created a massive headache for the people running in the next cycle. Candidates in swing districts are now going to be asked about this for the next two years.
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The Long-Term Fallout for the Justice Department
The biggest worry for many Democrats isn't just the 2026 midterms. It's the Department of Justice itself.
By claiming the DOJ was "politicized" in its pursuit of Hunter, Biden accidentally validated one of the GOP's favorite talking points. If the sitting President says his own DOJ is "unfair" and "infected by politics," it makes it much harder for Democrats to argue that the investigations into other political figures are neutral and fact-based.
Rep. Glenn Ivey mentioned he has "mixed views," but his biggest fear is that this will be used as a shield by the next administration. Basically, it gives a "green light" for more aggressive uses of the pardon power in the future.
Practical Realities for Voters
So, what does this mean for you? If you’re trying to make sense of the Biden son pardon democrats reaction, here is the bottom line:
- Expect more "Both Sides" rhetoric: Moving forward, any time a Democrat talks about "the rule of law," expect a Republican to bring up Hunter Biden. It’s now the permanent counter-argument.
- The "Pater Familias" defense: Biden is leaning heavily on the "I’m a dad" angle. This might save his family some grief, but it hasn't saved his legacy in the eyes of his party's legal hawks.
- Internal Friction: Watch for a shift in leadership. The fact that Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer have been relatively quiet—or in Schumer's case, literally saying "I got nothing for you"—shows a massive rift between the White House and Capitol Hill.
If you want to track how this actually impacts the law, keep an eye on the remaining clemency cases on Biden's desk. There is a lot of pressure now for him to pardon others who don't have the last name "Biden" to prove he actually believes the system is broken for everyone, not just his son.
Monitor the statements from the Democratic National Committee (DNC). If they start distancing themselves from the White House's rhetoric on the "politicized" justice system, it’s a sign that the party is officially moving on from the Biden era before he even leaves the building. Pay close attention to the 2026 primary candidates; their willingness to defend or denounce this pardon will tell you exactly where the "soul of the party" currently sits.
Next Steps to Stay Informed:
- Follow the official DOJ Office of the Pardon Attorney website for a full list of year-end clemency grants to see if Biden extends this "mercy" to others.
- Check the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research for updated polling on how this pardon affects trust in the judiciary over the long term.
- Review the Congressional Record for any proposed legislation aimed at limiting the scope of the presidential pardon power—a move some frustrated Democrats are already whispering about.