President Joe Biden faced questions about his decision to pardon his son Hunter during his first presidential trip to Angola. Biden avoided addressing the issue during a meeting with Angolan President João Lourenço at the presidential palace, instead welcoming the Angolan delegation to America.
Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had informed reporters that Biden was not scheduled to take questions from the press during his trip to Africa. Biden's decision to pardon his son, despite previously stating he would not use his powers for family members, has caused a political uproar in Washington.
Biden claimed that his son had been the victim of a 'miscarriage of justice' by his own Justice Department. The move has drawn criticism from Democrats, who fear it may weaken their ability to challenge the legal actions of the incoming president, Donald Trump.
Previously, Biden had publicly stated that he would not pardon his son, even as Hunter faced trial in a Delaware gun case. However, the president's decision to offer a blanket pardon has contradicted these earlier statements.
The controversy surrounding the pardon threatens to overshadow Biden's legacy as he approaches the end of his term in office on Jan. 20. The ongoing debate over the pardon and its implications for Biden's presidency has raised concerns among political observers.
