By: Keith Kappes
Columnist
Carter County Times
As a proud, lifelong Democrat, I was disappointed to see President Joe Biden break his promise about pardoning his son, Hunter Biden, on federal firearm and tax evasion charges.
Yet, as a father of sons myself, I feel I understand why he made that hard choice to spare his only living son, a recovering drug addict, from the shame and personal danger of a prison sentence.
President Biden rationalized his change-of-heart decision on the basis of his belief that the younger Biden had been prosecuted because of political pressure before and during the 2024 presidential election.
Ironically, that is essentially the same complaint that President-elect Donald Trump and his supporters have voiced repeatedly during the former president’s prosecution and convictions on various charges.
It is a sad commentary indeed that accusations of political prosecutions affecting either party’s candidates, aptly labeled as weaponizing the U. S. Department of Justice, appear to have some merit.
If so, our nation’s commitment to the rule of law, as mandated and guaranteed by our constitution, is in real danger. That could spell disaster for the future of our country and must not be allowed to happen.
Surprisingly, by disavowing earlier threats to seek retribution against his political enemies, President-elect Trump could become the champion of efforts to strengthen the rule of law.
Perhaps more importantly, it would reassure the more than 48 percent of Americans who didn’t vote for him that he is not the petty, vindictive man portrayed to varying degrees by his opponents in all three of his presidential campaigns.
As for political legacies, President Biden’s positive record of 40-plus years of service in the Senate and the White House most likely won’t be enough to keep his name from being tarnished because he pardoned his son.
Mr. Trump promised Americans that he would “fix” problems in their daily lives. Making sure that the U. S. Department of Justice is non-partisan going forward would be a great place to start.Contact Keith at keithkappes@gmail.com.
