The Biden family has been in the news today. Two major stories broke.
One, President Joe Biden pardoned those in Federal Prison for the use of marijuana. This has been a campaign promise of Joe Biden. The timing was well planned, as we are less than a month away from election day.
This pardon was a win for Biden and the Democrats. With inflation, crime and gas prices all at levels that make winning in November difficult for the Presidents party, This may win some points and votes. This pardon enjoys bi-partisan support. The pardon is really a nothing burger as very few people are actually in federal prison for just using weed. But from a symbolic, vote winning strategy, this was a win. 70% of Americans feel that marijuana should be legal.
Those it would help are ones who had an arrest made in the past as it would erase that arrest and conviction from their record. The President also asked ask the Health and Human Services and the Justice Department to review the classification of cannabis. Changing the classification from a class I drug to a class II drug would allow experimentation on this drug to see what is effects are on the human body.
The second newsbit that was leaked by the FBI was that the FBI had enough information to get a likely conviction of Hunter Biden for tax evasion and for lying on his Federal Gun Application.
The FBI do not get to make the decision whether Hunter Biden should have charges filed against him. The leak was to the Washington Post and Hunter Biden's lawyer is understandably upset.
Hunter Biden’s lawyer, Chris Clark, shot back at the information leak, saying “It is a federal felony for a federal agent to leak information about a Grand Jury investigation such as this one,” and alleging that any agent who spoke with The Washington Post broke the law. “We expect the Department of Justice will diligently investigate and prosecute such bad actors. As is proper and legally required, we believe the prosecutors in this case are diligently and thoroughly weighing not just evidence provided by agents, but also all the other witnesses in this case, including witnesses for the defense. That is the job of the prosecutors. They should not be pressured, rushed, or criticized for doing their job.”
This case has been ongoing for four years. Hunter previously turned down a plea bargain that offered no jail time and some money payments. There is doubt that any decision will be made on possible charge till after the mid-term elections.