Congressman’s Comments Revisited After Hunter Decision
The irony is almost too thick to cut. An old clip of Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) touting the need for transparency and accountability in presidential pardons has resurfaced, creating a firestorm on social media just days after President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden in sweeping fashion. The hypocrisy was palpable, and it didn’t take long for Republicans to seize the moment.
The clip, dating back to 2018, features Schiff passionately advocating for his “Abuse of the Pardon Prevention Act.” At the time, it was aimed at then-President Donald Trump amid speculation he might pardon associates tied to the Russia investigation.
Schiff made the case that Congress should have the authority to scrutinize such pardons, particularly if they involved cases where the president or his family had vested interests. The legislation would have required the Department of Justice to share evidence with Congress in such scenarios. Lofty rhetoric about justice and transparency abounded.
If the President issues a pardon in a case in which he or his family are implicated, the American people need to know whether it is part of an attempt to obstruct justice. This bill would make that possible and serve as a powerful deterrent. pic.twitter.com/kvIeORqvC3
— Adam Schiff (@AdamSchiff) April 19, 2018
But here we are in 2024, and that principled stand seems to have evaporated faster than morning dew. President Biden’s sweeping pardon of Hunter Biden has ignited outrage not just because of its breadth—covering potential crimes over a decade-long span—but also because of its timing.
It came in the shadow of ongoing investigations into Hunter’s business dealings, which have already cast a long shadow on Biden’s presidency.
Republicans, predictably, didn’t miss a beat. Reactions ranged from sharp quips to blistering critiques. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) noted, “This aged like milk,” while Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) dismissed the affair as a case of “double standards.” Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX) directly called out Schiff, asking whether he still stood by his earlier statements or if it was yet another example of Democrats playing by a different set of rules.
The pardon itself, spanning from January 2014 to December 2024, raises serious questions. It conveniently covers the period when Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings were under scrutiny, including those tied to the impeachment inquiry into President Biden. By effectively insulating his son from any potential legal jeopardy, Biden has all but ensured a political maelstrom as the incoming Republican-led Congress prepares for its term.
The stunning juxtaposition of Schiff’s previous calls for accountability and the silence now from Democrats underscores a larger issue. When power changes hands, so too does the definition of justice. For conservatives and independents weary of what they see as a two-tiered system, the Biden pardon is the latest in a long list of grievances that challenge the very notion of equal treatment under the law.