A Democratic strategist argues that Hunter Biden's pardon will weaken the party's perceived authority on the rule of law.

According to Democratic strategist Julian Epstein, President Biden's pardon of his son Hunter on Sunday weakens Democrats' claim to uphold the rule of law.

"According to Epstein, a father's effort to assist his son may be relatable to people, but it is a difficult sell to the American public and poor branding for a president who has already failed in the eyes of most Americans. Epstein, a former chief counsel for the House Judiciary Committee and former staff director for the House Government Reform Committee, made this statement on Planet Chronicle Digital. Biden and his team misled the American people about his ability to handle a second term."

On Sunday evening, the White House declared that the president granted a pardon to Hunter for any offenses he may have committed during the period from January 2014 to December 2024.

The broad scope of this pardon – a comprehensive "Get Out of Jail Free" pass for any illegal activities since 2014 – will undoubtedly generate more questions, particularly regarding alleged pay-to-play activities in which Joe Biden himself may have been involved, according to Republican critics, as Epstein stated.

In June, a federal court convicted Hunter of three federal gun charges, and in September, he admitted guilt in a separate federal felony tax case.

"At the very minimum, this will completely undermine the Democrats' self-proclaimed authority on the rule of law, taxing the rich, and background checks." — Julian Epstein

Epstein stated that Biden and his advisors deceived the American public about his ability to handle another term in office. Furthermore, the pardon seems to indicate that they also misled the public about their moral standing on democracy and the rule of law.

"Politicians and the media consistently and self-righteously asserted that Biden would never pardon his son and used this to criticize Trump."

The White House could not immediately be reached for comment.

In his statement announcing the pardon of Hunter Biden, Biden stated that his son's prosecution was politically motivated.

In his statement, Biden made it clear that Hunter was treated differently.

"Hunter's charges were instigated by my political opponents in Congress to attack me and oppose my election. A carefully negotiated plea deal was agreed upon by the Department of Justice, but it unraveled in the courtroom. Several of my political opponents in Congress took credit for bringing political pressure on the process. Had the plea deal held, it would have been a fair and reasonable resolution of Hunter's cases," Biden said.

Hunter Biden also issued a statement following his father's decision.

"I have acknowledged my mistakes during my addiction and accepted responsibility for them, even though they were used to humiliate and shame me and my family for political gain," Hunter stated in a Planet Chronicle interview. "Nevertheless, I have remained sober for over five years due to my strong faith and the unwavering support of my loved ones."

"In the grip of addiction, I lost many opportunities and advantages," he said. "In recovery, we can be given the chance to make amends and rebuild our lives. I will never take the mercy I have been granted lightly and will dedicate my life to helping those who are still struggling."

Many politicians, pundits, and Elon Musk have criticized a May 31 presidential post on X as hypocritical and ironic, stating that "no one is above the law."

Previously, many media outlets reported that Biden would never pardon Hunter.

This report was contributed to by Emma Colton, Landon Mion, and Alex Nitzberg of Planet Chronicle Digital.