'Karma' or 'political prosecution?' Voters weigh in on Hunter Biden criminal trials
Federal criminal charges against Hunter Biden in Delaware and California have predictably polarized Americans along party lines. Despite this, many voters are not surprised and, in some cases, even pleased to see President Joe Biden standing by his adult son as he fights to avoid prison time.
This sentiment emerged from a series of interviews conducted by USA Today as Hunter Biden prepares for his trial on Monday for allegedly lying about his drug use to buy a gun. This case will be heard by a Wilmington, Delaware, jury just weeks before President Biden faces off with Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump in their first presidential debate in Atlanta.
After a derailed plea deal, Hunter Biden, 54, also faces nine tax charges in Los Angeles, with a combined maximum penalty of 17 years in prison. That trial is set to begin on September 5, five days before Joe Biden and Trump are expected to meet for another presidential debate.
“On one hand, what else can a father do?” said Thomas Brown, 46, an independent from Long Beach, California. “But on the other hand, he’s the commander in chief, holding the most crucial position in the world, and that’s why laws exist.”
Aware of the political implications, Hunter Biden’s lawyers have suggested questioning potential Delaware jurors on their engagement with the 2024 presidential election, their views on President Biden and his accomplishments, and their attention to news about Trump.
Twelve Delaware residents will serve on the jury to determine Hunter Biden’s guilt. Meanwhile, the entire voting-age population will have the opportunity to decide the president’s fate in the upcoming election.
“What any parent would do for their child”
Although he seldom discusses his son’s issues publicly, Joe Biden defended Hunter during a 2020 presidential debate when Trump brought up his drug use.
“My son – like a lot of people, like a lot of people you know at home – had a drug problem,” Biden said. “He’s overtaken it, he’s fixed it, he’s worked on it. And I’m proud of him.”
Hunter Biden’s addiction has long been a sensitive topic for the president. Recently, three Biden advisers told Politico that they are worried about the strain the trials will place on him and that he is concerned about his son “from the moment he wakes up to the moment he goes to sleep.”
The Biden campaign declined to provide a comment, and the White House did not respond to a request for one.
Some supporters of the president find his commitment to his family both commendable and relatable. Carol Vasquez, 74, an independent from St. Louis, Missouri, praised the president as an “excellent parent” and a “good family man” for standing by his son.
“That’s the kind of man you want in office. A man who has integrity and honesty,” Vasquez said. “They’re always your children no matter how old they are or how old you are. Once you have children, you have them.”
Republicans and Trump, who was recently found liable in a hush money and election interference case, are likely to use Hunter Biden’s legal troubles to attack the president and his family.
Even those who don’t align with the president’s politics seem to understand his defense of his son.
“That’s what any parent would do for their child,” said Jane Dhemecourt, 67, an independent from Abita Springs, Louisiana, who plans to vote for Trump in November.
Political motivations “not a coincidence”
Half of Americans believe Hunter Biden received favorable treatment from prosecutors because he is the president’s son, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll last summer. The poll found Republicans (75%) were much more likely to believe this than independents (42%) or Democrats (33%).
Hunter Biden has called the rarely brought gun-related charges against him politically motivated and accused Republicans of weaponizing his past addiction to attack his father during a contentious election.
Deanne Robinson, 56, a Democrat from St. Petersburg, Florida, agrees and plans to vote for Biden in November.
“It’s not a coincidence. It’s a ploy to tie Joe and Hunter together as if it is Joe who is undergoing those charges,” Robinson said. “But my thoughts are if he is found guilty, let justice be served.”
Mike McCombs, 67, a Republican from Lincolnton, Georgia, views the Hunter Biden trials as retribution for the president’s family following Trump’s lengthy trial in Manhattan. He plans to vote for Trump in November.
“I think karma has caught up with him, the whole family,” McCombs said. “The reality of politics has caught up with them. They spent all that time trying to put Trump in jail and they’ve done a whole lot worse.”
Trump has repeatedly claimed that his opponent in the presidential election rigged the New York trial, but the case was brought by state prosecutors, not directed by the Biden administration.
Brown perceives the trials involving both Trump and Hunter Biden as politically driven and a “mockery” of the justice system. He dislikes both major party candidates and is not planning to vote for president in November.
“I believed Trump should have been impeached, but honestly, this New York prosecution looks like a political prosecution to me,” said Brown. “The same goes for Hunter Biden. He’s a scumbag, and it’s no shock that the President’s kid is one too, but this also seems like a political prosecution.”
Unlikely Impact on Voters’ Decisions
A majority surveyed last summer indicated that Hunter Biden’s legal troubles would not sway their support for his father in 2024. Across the political spectrum, voters expressed that these trials would not influence their voting choices come November. Some individuals even mentioned they have no intention of closely following the proceedings.
“For me, it’s not something I’m closely following. It won’t alter my perspective on the country’s direction or affect my vote whatsoever,” remarked Dhemecourt, emphasizing her focus on other pressing national issues like border security. “I view it as media distraction from more critical matters we’re facing.”
While Vasquez mentioned her intention to keep up with trial coverage, she asserted that it wouldn’t sway her vote for Biden. “In my view, our adult children’s actions shouldn’t dictate our political choices,” she stated, expressing her hope that others share her sentiment.
Robinson admitted that the trial outcomes wouldn’t likely change her vote for Biden but highlighted the importance of the president’s response. “If he were to distance himself from his son, I’d be less inclined to support him. Parents should stand by their children, especially in tough times,” she concluded.
