Former Democratic chief counsel Julian Epstein criticized President Joe Biden’s recent pardons during an appearance on Fox Business’s The Evening Edit, suggesting they are part of a broader influence peddling scheme rather than acts of judicial mercy.
Epstein argued that the pardons give “oxygen to the Republican argument that this matter is worthy of further investigation.” He claimed the actions point to a systematic effort to shield family members from accountability while protecting the Biden family’s financial interests.
“Not just is it a smudge on his legacy, whatever legacy is left. Because Biden lied about the pardons of his family members. It exposes the sanctimony of the Democratic rhetoric on rule of law as hollow. But ultimately, what the pardon of the family members does is it gives oxygen to the Republican argument that this is worthy of further investigation because what the pardon suggests, Liz, is a cover-up of an influence peddling scheme,” Epstein stated.
The discussion also touched on Hunter Biden’s controversial dealings with foreign entities, particularly his role with Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company. Epstein highlighted concerns raised in 2015 when the State Department reportedly warned the White House that Hunter Biden’s involvement with Burisma posed a significant conflict of interest and policy challenge in Ukraine.
“There is nothing that stops Congress from doing an investigation, and there’s nothing that stops the Justice Department from doing an investigation as to whether the pardons themselves were part of a cover-up scheme. In 2016, Hunter Biden reportedly approached the State Department to broker a favorable deal between the Italians and Burisma,” Epstein added.
Epstein also suggested that President Biden might have been indirectly involved in his son’s business dealings. “So, at a minimum, this is suggestive of an influence peddling scheme of which we don’t know the details, but of which President Biden, who claims to be a very caring father, was at the elbow of his son while he was doing this,” Epstein said. He noted that the pardons only add “smoke to a set of circumstances” that bolster Republican calls for further investigation.
In his final hours in office, Biden issued preemptive pardons to several individuals, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, Gen. Mark Milley, and members of the Jan. 6 committee, claiming the intent was to shield them from “unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions.” Biden also pardoned several family members, including his brothers Frank and James, James’ wife Sara, his sister Valerie Owens, and her husband John Owens.
