[Music] good evening I'm Nora odonnell and we begin with a lot of news here in Washington and the Fallout from President Biden's decision to Grant a sweeping pardon for his son Hunter Biden was said to be sentenced 10 days from now on a felony gun conviction in Delaware and then on separate tax charges in California Days Later Republicans and some Democrats are criticizing the president's decision after he previously said many times that he would not pardon his son president-elect Donald Trump pounced on the Move calling it an abuse and Mis Carriage of justice and hinted
that he plans to Pardon those convicted of the assault at the US Capitol building in 2021 President Biden contends that his son was targeted for political reasons but today the special counsel who investigated Hunter Biden said there's no evidence of vindictive or selective prosecution of the president's son CBS zto Keefe has more details and reaction tonight on the paring of Hunter Biden with the president traveling today to Africa arriving in Ang Ola today President Biden ignored questions about the pardon of his son Mr President Mr President well at the White House how relieved are you
by the pardon of Hunter Dr Biden the first lady offered this after unveiling Christmas decorations the decision came after the president and his press secretary had spent more than a year claiming a pardon was out of the question I said I'd bide by the jury decision and I will do that and I will my pardon we've been asked that question multiple times our answer stands which is no the sweeping nature of the pardon clears the president's son of all crimes he's committed or may have committed over 10 years well it's unprecedented no president's ever pardoned
their child before Harden expert Jeffrey Crouch says it scope is similar to the clemency Gerald Ford gave Richard Nixon who resigned amid the Watergate scandal it's about as broad as is any pardon that I aware of it includes pretty much any potential federal offense and the way that incl really anything that happens within that particular time range the pardon came just a day after president-elect Trump chose cash Patel to run the FBI a right-wing operative who's criticized Hunter Biden and vowed to go after Trump's political Rivals the president in fact suggested that his son would
remain a target of the incoming Administration saying there's no reason to believe it will stop here enough is enough but several Democrats today said Biden had gone too far calling the pardon improper and unwise the crimes are very serious and this isn't singling out one individual there Gary shapley an IRS investigator who worked on the hunter Biden tax evasion case took issue with the president's statement that his son faced prosecution only because he is my son and that is wrong if the Department of Justice truly is uh a affair and treats every individual the same
then there's no way they could have not charged Hunter Biden with committing these acts it was quite striking to see several Democratic governors and lawmakers say today that while they understand a father's concern for his son the president tarnished his legacy and put the interests of his family ahead of the country they're also worried it could embolden Trump to abuse the same clemency Powers once he takes office Nora Ed O'Keefe at the White House tonight Ed thank you
