After the pardon of Hunter Biden, Democrats renew their efforts to restrict the president's clemency powers.

After President Biden issued a sweeping pardon for his son, Hunter, several House Democrats are reiterating their demands for greater restrictions on the executive branch's clemency powers.

Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., who has proposed a constitutional amendment restricting presidential pardon powers in multiple congressional sessions, defended Biden's decision while urging critics to support his bill.

Earlier this week, Cohen stated that the pardon power is intended to prevent injustice and he comprehends why President Biden deemed it suitable in this specific scenario.

"To those who find the pardon distasteful, I urge you to support the constitutional amendment I have introduced to reform the pardon power. This measure would eliminate pardons for the President's self, family, Administration officials, campaign staff, and those who commit crimes on behalf of, for the benefit of, or at the direction of the President, all instances with inescapable perceptions of conflicts of interest."

A wave of Democrats has expressed concern about the pardon's broad scope, fearing it could set a precedent for future misuse.

Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., who previously supported Cohen's amendment, has not altered his stance on the issue.

The spokesperson stated that it would be beneficial if Republicans reconsider their stance on pardon reform and their willingness to overlook the President-elect's abuse of pardon powers, especially given his promises to pardon violent criminals who assaulted police officers on January 6th.

Some Democrats expressed willingness to consider restrictions on pardons when speaking with Planet Chronicle Digital.

Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Md., expressed uncertainty about supporting the amendment but believed there might not be enough political support for such a change. Additionally, he urged Biden to use his clemency powers to release individuals jailed on minor charges.

"Ivey stated that while it is something that could be examined, he would prefer to concentrate on the utilization of the pardon power. Thousands of individuals who should have been pardoned or had their sentences reduced are currently incarcerated for minor offenses. He expressed his desire to see this matter addressed."

Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, stated that it is necessary for Congress to examine presidential pardons, particularly in light of the ongoing debate surrounding the circumstances under which a president can grant clemency to someone whose offenses may be linked to the president.

Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, stated that Cohen's bill is worth discussing. He mentioned that there were no Republican co-sponsors, so hopefully he can obtain their support now.

Republicans, however, were skeptical.

Rep. Mike Ezell, R-Miss., stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that although there may be disagreements about the actions of different parties, the current system should remain in place as it has been in place for centuries.

Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., argued that restricting pardon powers would set a dangerous precedent, while accusing Biden of misusing the responsibility.

Gary Palmer, R-Ala., the House GOP Policy Chairman, did not comment on limiting pardon powers but stated that they should not disappear entirely.

"Joe Biden's actions of protecting a crime family, overstepping his authority, and exposing himself as a liar do not justify eliminating it entirely," he stated.

Any crimes committed by Hunter Biden between 2014 and December 2024 are covered by his pardon, which he received as he faced potential jail sentences for firearms and tax charges.

The president, who is 82 years old, claimed that Republicans were using the justice system to target his son unfairly.

During his weekly press conference on Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., pledged to bring about change but did not provide specifics.

"Johnson stated that the pardon is a perversion of justice and a disregard for the rule of law, which undermines the people's faith in the system of justice. He added that reform is necessary and cannot come soon enough."