In Biden's America, Turkeys Get Pardons and Sons Get Sentencing Dates

Only two presidents have pardoned family members in almost 250 years of American history: Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.

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In Biden's America, Turkeys Get Pardons and Sons Get Sentencing Dates

As America braces for turkey-induced comas, President Biden pardoned Peach and Blossom, two lucky fowls, just in time.

Trump is the only Republican president to pardon a family member.

Every year, journalists come knocking on my email for filler quotes on the tradition, but in 2024, I noticed a shift. Biden's performance inspired the media to speculate that the president might grant Hunter Biden, his son, similar reprieve. As I wrote for CNN last year, I doubt that will happen; if President Biden had any intention of intervening, he would have done so by now.

Only two presidents have pardoned family members in almost 250 years of American history—one Republican and one Democrat: Donald Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, father of Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and senior White House adviser. Kushner was pardoned for tax evasion, illegal campaign contributions, and attempting to blackmail his brother-in-law through a recorded encounter with a prostitute. Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother, Roger Clinton Jr., who had been convicted of cocaine possession and drug trafficking.

Bill Clinton is the only Democratic president to have pardoned a family member.

When the framers enshrined the presidential pardon in Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, they failed to anticipate a future in which it would be used as a get-out-of-jail-free card for the First Family. They had intended for it to be used as a tool for national unity and justice—and for the most part, they were right.

In the end, any speculation around a pardon for Hunter Biden says less about this father and son than it does the media’s misdirected focus—and underscores the need to stuff our political discourse with something more substantial.

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