ESPN host Stephan A. Smith has criticized Joe Biden for his decision to pardon his Hunter Biden.
Biden’s surprise U-turn decision will see Hunter pardoned for any crimes he may or may not have committed “from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024.”
It comes just weeks after the White House denied that the president would take the drastic step, which was rejected by both Republicans and Democrats, in the final months of his lame-duck presidency.
Smith, speaking on the latest episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, was apoplectic as he responded to Biden’s decision.
“With respect to the President of the United States, especially when it comes to that statement, you’re full of it.
“I’m going to look over here, on the national airwaves, and look the president of the United States in the face and say, ‘You’re full of it.’
The sports personality said that while he had no problem with the pardon itself, it was Biden’s reasoning that made him so angry.
Biden said his son’s prosecution was “relentless… and selective.”
Stephen A. Smith (photo) reacted apoplectically to Biden’s decision
President Joe Biden stands with his son Hunter Biden, who was found guilty of all three charges in his trial on weapons charges earlier today, after President Biden arrived at the Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Delaware, USA, 11 June , 2024
He said in his statement on the matter: “The allegations in his cases came about only after some of my political opponents in Congress incited them to attack me and oppose my election.
“Then, a carefully negotiated plea deal negotiated by the Justice Department unraveled in court — with some of my political opponents in Congress taking credit for putting political pressure on the trial. Had the plea deal stood, it would have been a fair, reasonable resolution of Hunter’s cases.”
Smith said angrily: ‘I said weeks ago, you’re damn right to let him go. He is your son, a recovering addict, and he has battled those demons for years.
“And I completely understand the fact that you let your son go. Donald Trump would have let his son go. Anyone would have done that, or at least most people. I understand that. That’s not the problem, sir.
“If you pardon your son and go back on your word and tell the American people there was no way you could pardon him when everyone and your grandmother knew you were lying and didn’t hold you accountable.
“And now you’ve confirmed what people thought that you were probably going to lie about the very thing you said you wouldn’t do for your son. All you had to do was say, ‘He’s my son. I can’t let him go to jail.’ What’s wrong with you?’
The pardon covers both the gun charge and Hunter’s guilty plea. CNN reported that the judges overseeing his cases will most likely cancel the sentencing hearings he was scheduled to attend on December 12 for the gun case and on December 16 for the tax case.
The broad pardon also absolves him of any crimes he may have committed between Jan. 1, 2014, and Dec. 1, 2024, including his full term on the board of Ukrainian gas company Burisma, as well as much of his other overseas work, including in China.
Hunter Biden was known for dating prostitutes
It goes against what Biden recently said in June, saying directly to the press: ‘I will not pardon him’
He also made a series of bizarre nude videos
Hunter joined Burisma’s board in 2014 and was paid millions for his role in the company, despite having no background in the gas or energy industries.
For months, the country wondered whether the president would pardon his son over his convictions for federal gun fraud and tax fraud.
Both Biden and his spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre have repeatedly denied that Hunter would receive a pardon from his father.
When asked in November – just over 24 hours after the presidential election was called in Trump’s favor – whether Biden plans to pardon his son, Jean-Pierre replied: “We’ve been asked that question several times. Our answer remains: no.’
In June, Biden reiterated his vow not to pardon his son in his first public comments on Hunter since last week’s sentencing. Hunter faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
He also said he was confident his son received a fair trial and reiterated his support for him.
‘I am extremely proud of my son Hunter. He has overcome an addiction. He’s one of the smartest, most decent men I know. And I’m satisfied that I’m not going to do anything. I said I would abide by the jury’s decision. I will. And I will not pardon him,” Biden said Thursday.
And he simply said “no” when asked directly if he would commute Hunter’s sentence.