Foreign affairs expert Abhijit Iyer-Mitra has called US President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, an acknowledgment of the political nature of the American justice system. The move comes after Hunter Biden was convicted on gun and tax-related charges, with the presidential pardon ensuring he will not face sentencing or prison time.
Acknowledging Political Influence
Speaking about the pardon, Iyer-Mitra said,
“What Joe Biden’s pardoning of his son has done is it’s the first time that somebody on the top, no less than the President himself, has finally admitted what we have always known—which is the American system is a completely political system.”
He drew parallels to earlier cases, including the arrest of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade by former US Attorney Preet Bharara, to highlight how high-profile legal actions often serve political motives.
Politics Behind the Pardon
Iyer-Mitra argued that legal and political careers in the US are closely linked, noting:
“Most US Presidents have been lawyers. Lawyer is the first step to a political career…The American system always has been and always will be a completely political thing.”
Criticism of Adani Indictment
The expert also linked Biden’s pardon to other politically charged actions, such as the US indictment of Indian industrialist Gautam Adani.
Iyer-Mitra called the allegations against Adani baseless, stating:
“It (US indictment on Adani) was 100 per cent political…What has been alleged in that indictment is a joke.”
He accused Breon Peace, the US attorney involved in the case, of using the indictment as a political tool, labeling the move as interference.
Broader Implications
The pardon has sparked debates about the intersection of law and politics in the US. Critics argue it reflects a system where legal actions often align with political agendas, further polarizing public opinion.
