John Fetterman says Hunter Biden, Trump both deserve pardons after 'politically motivated' trials

[Polybius]

Source: NBC News

Democratic Sen. John Fetterman said Thursday that the federal cases against President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden and the New York hush money case against President-elect Donald Trump were both “politically motivated” and deserving of pardons.

Biden issued a broad pardon for his son Hunter over the weekend. Trump was convicted by a New York state jury earlier this year on charges of falsifying business records related to payments to Stormy Daniels, an adult film performer, ahead of the 2016 election. Pardons in state cases like that one are handled at the stat level, not the presidential level.

Fetterman told a small group of reporters in the Capitol that the tax and gun cases against Hunter Biden were “politically motivated” and “weaponized for political gain,” comparing them to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s case against Trump.

“The same thing was done with Trump with the New York case. And that was bulls--- too,” the Pennsylvania senator said. “And that was weaponized for political gain.”

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/john-fetterman-says-hunter-biden-trump-both-deserve-pardons-politicall-rcna183094

[choie]

1. FUCK HIM

And any democrat who says anything about trump being pardoned. That is a bridge too far.

[riversedge]

2. Fetterman is WRONG about Trumps case! Period!!

[cadoman]

19. The man was in a very bad car wreck and was lucky to survive

I truly suspect like his personality or intelligence was affected a bit.

I don't think what he's saying now is his true nature, but rather his post-accident reality..

[Charging Triceratops]

33. Thank you!!

This zombie was teetering on the fake-D edge for quite a while now.
Now we see what a lamebrain he really is.
Call Connor Lamb for a primary challenge!!

[NotHardly]

35. Did Fetterman have another stroke? WTF

[PatSeg]

52. What is wrong with him?

This isn't the first time he's said something off-the-wall.

[Dem2theMax]

3. John Fetterman just lost every bit of respect I had for him.

[niyad]

4. Same here.

[cyndensco]

53. He lost me when I learned he had held a black jogger in his neighborhood at gunpoint.

I was thrilled he beat dr. oz but could never truly respect him.

[Think. Again.]

5. Should someone tell Fetterman that Hunter Biden ISN'T a politician?

[cstanleytech]

6. The NY case was one based on evidence gathered in the course of an investigation of a crime.

Trump had the chance to try for a plea deal and opted for a trial clearly and lost.
Hunter opted to take a plea deal but the deal was then rescinded because of political pressure with the intent not to seek justice but to try and hurt Joe Biden.

[SunSeeker]

7. Fetterman is worried about reelection apparently.

Disappointing.

[cadoman]

21. he only assumed office in January 2023

So he's gonna be with us for a while. Maybe we should work constructively with the guy and his mental condition for that time?

Keep in mind he narrowly replaced a Republican in a highly contested race that MAGATs pumped a lot of $$$ into. We need to bear in mind that not every state has a cushy Democratic majority and can afford to have the political rhetoric dialed to 11 at all times.

[malthaussen]

43. PA typically has one republican and one democratic senator.

It's illustrative of the schizoid nature of the state. But now that McCormick ousted Casey, balance has been restored.

-- Mal

[xocetaceans]

8. Perhaps Fetterman's medical situation has damaged his reasoning ability, or maybe he is just a coward....

Either way, pardoning Trump is a ridiculous suggestion. Fuck that.

[quakerboy]

9. The term useful idiot comes to mind

[fightvision81]

10. He's a Coward and a disgrace.

And I would rather go independent than be in the party if we're going to cave and become feckless to the Cheeto-crusted Monster. I live in PA and had the dishonorable mention of voting for Fetterman, when he was an upfront, self-labelled Progressive. Before he became a DC-established liar. I remember backing him through his period after he had the stroke, hoping he beat Dr OZ. Now, I'd rather vote for a fish than reelect that lying fool. If he thinks the Republicans are going vote for a Republican-lite double-talker he's got another thing coming.

[VegasVet]

11. He will never have my support again.

What a nutty take on the situation.

[Karasu]

12. What the fuck? Holy false equivalences, Batman.

[GreenWave]

13. He may be indicative of how fascist sympathy violins flip voters from our side.

Oh poor T he rapes women
Oh poor T he stole secrets
Oh poor T his insurrection failed
Oh poor T his scrotus gave him Divine power
Oh poor T he incites his rabble

[Scrivener7]

14. .

[hlthe2b]

15. So, we now have a new Manchin in the Senate? Apologist & contrarian for Trump?

[Deminpenn]

16. Fetterman says what he thinks and doesn't care if others agree or not

Bragg indicted Trump for falsifying business records, a common prosecution in NYC. It was unique in that the charge was upgraded to a felony by tying it to election interference. I don't recall Fetterman calling the indictment and subsequent trial "political" at the time they were happening or after their conclusion.

In contrast, Hunter Biden was indicted and prosecuted for crimes that rarely are. He admitted to cheating on his taxes and paid what he owed back plus interest. When charges are brought against a person for a crime that is rarely enforced and for a tax evasion case that was already resolved, an end other than justice is being served. Biden and his attys worked out a plea deal that subsequently was derailed.

To summarize, one person was indicted on a commonly prosecuted charge in the city where he lived and did business for many year, by an elected DA. Another person was indicted on a rare charge and a resolved crime by an unelected special counsel of the opposition party.

As for Fetterman, I have my doubts whether he'll even run for relection in 2028. From all that I've read he doesn't really like the senate. But, he has also voted with Dems almost, if not, all the time. Gisele Fetternan, otoh, would make a great senator.

[Butterflylady]

45. He is the darling democrat for fox news now.

I am very disappointed now, and I am just sick about it. I never expected this.

[MyOwnPeace]

50. Great sane, reasonable look.....

at this absurd position Fetterman has taken. He has been 'out-of-sorts' lately on many issues......

[Deminpenn]

58. Fetterman is quintessential western Pennsylvania

If you asked this same question to just about any W Pa native, you'd get the same answer. Walking contradictions abound here and "hot takes" (gut reactions) rather than critical thinking are becoming endemic. I doubt Fetterman could actually explain why he thinks what he said. I could be wrong, but he doesn't strike me as a particularly deep thinker despite also striking me as an introvert, who, imho, tend to be introspective and thoughtful.

Fetterman is what he is. As long as he votes with Dems, he can say what he wants.

[hadEnuf]

17. Pardon this you Vichy asshole.

n/t

[AZLD4Candidate]

18. Sorry, John. I am endebted to you for what did for my wife's green card hold up, but you are wrong on this one.

100% wrong.

[Paladin]

20. Fuck you where you breathe, Fetterman.

Talk about a guy who's overstayed his welcome...

[Ray Bruns]

22. John Fetterman needs to STFU and sit down

[uncledad]

23. Kiss the Ring

“The same thing was done with Trump with the New York case. And that was bullshit too,”

Sounds to me like Mr. Fetterman is attempting to shield himself from Stump's AG retribution tour. Saying Stump deserves a pardon just might get him off Stump and AG Bondo's enemies list. Mika and Joe anyone?

[malthaussen]

42. No chance. He called DJT a "jagoff" in public. That will not be forgiven.

But John has turned out to be all mouth and no action. There may be many reasons for this, but making an occasional snide remark in the Senate does not a Senator make. At least, not a worthy one.

-- Mal

[Hotler]

24. This whole thread bashes a democrat. I thought that was against DU rules? so I've been told by the mods. nt

My post i

[Seeking Serenity]

48. It's been amply demonstrated that

There are rules and then there are "rules."

[cadoman]

60. definitely a bit of understandable jury nullification going on

I think Fetterman has earned better than this but I ain't gonna bother reporting it as the community has clearly spoken.

[HereForTheParty]

25. A Trump pardon now would be ridiculed by MAGAts - it's worse than meaningless at this point

Trump has skated.

[no_hypocrisy]

26. Memo to Sen. Fetterman

Hunter Biden didn’t try to take down the U.S. Government.

[Omnipresent]

27. To whom is he addressing this opinion to?

Is Fetterman scared that voters in Pennsylvania are going to try and keep the state red, and toss him out, next time around?

[Abstractartist]

28. Never

trump would never accept a pardon. If you accept a pardon, you must admit to guilt, and trump would never admit guilt to anything. A political ploy could be offering a pardon for President Biden, if trump rejects, then Dems can g on to MAGATs and say , see… we offered, but….and if no pardon is offered so be it. Some other things…. Hunter Biden was a fed case, trumps guilty verdict case is New York State case.

[lark]

29. What a disappointment he turned out to be!

SMH

[Clouds Passing]

30. Wrong about the "hush money" case, just wrong!

[travelingthrulife]

31. Done with Fetterman

[Kali999]

32. Big Mouth

Needs to sit down and put a rock in his mouth. They are using him to troll us. He needs a case of shut the f up.

[PortTack]

34. What's wrong with this guy??!!

[republianmushroom]

36. Is Fetterman looking for spot in the convicted felons administration ?

46 months and counting

[FakeNoose]

37. Only Governor Hochul can pardon Chump for the NY fraud-tax felony convictions

Come on, I'm not a lawyer, and even I know that one!

[Owens]

38. Trump's case in NY happened before he became President.

[Bengus81]

39. Quick Fetterman....hop a jet down to Whore-a-logo and KISS the RING!! Wheeeee!!

[Paladin]

40. Fetterman can't even be bothered to DRESS like a professional adult.

Much less, act like one...

[Karasu]

47. I couldn't care less how he dresses. I do care that he's spewing false equivalencies that only serve the interests of

the fascists. Fuck that.

[malthaussen]

41. Good to know. It's a shame...

... I liked John, but his stint in the Senate has not been good for him. Best he find other employment.

-- Mal

[LudwigPastorius]

44. Brain damage from the stroke?

...because, the idea that Trump "deserves" a pardon because it was an unfair prosecution is absolutely nutty.

The man deserves jail time for his convictions and for so much more. He is a traitor to the country. We all saw him incite a mob to storm the Capitol building in an attempt to overthrow election results. We all saw FBI photographs of highly classified documents stolen from the White House in a Mar a Lago bathroom.

No, Senator Fetterman, you are either cognitively impaired or you are pandering to curry favor from Trump and his supporters.

[tonekat]

46. I unsubscribed from his emails today

Who needs that noise?

[OverBurn]

49. Fuck you Fetterman!

[OAITW r.2.0]

51. John....1 Party does politically motivated trials. The other works with the rule of law. Do you know which?

[Mike Nelson]

54. How strange...

... their crimes and their positions are so different... of course, Hunter was never President and prompted no insurrections. The one thing they have in common is nonpayment of taxes. Hunter paid up... crooked Donald did not. Hunter admitted he was using drugs at the time he bought a gun... crooked Donald denies attacking and raping women. I think it's clear that Donald doesn't qualify for a pardon, for many more crimes than Hunter.

[LoisB]

55. Maybe I am imagining things but it seems to me that, of late, every time Fetterman opens his mouth something

pro right-wing comes out. He has quickly become a great disappointment to me and I don't even live in PA.

[union rep]

56. Say what?

No such thing as a little (small) STROKE

[sakabatou]

57. I think the stroke did something to him

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

59. If you steal classified government documents and then face trial for it, ...

... the trial is NOT politically motivated. It's motivated by a desire to prosecute criminals.

[Polybius]

62. That's the federal classified government case

Fetterman was saying the NY trial was politically motivated.

[DrFunkenstein]

61. Was So Wrong About That Dude

I know he's a Democrat, but he has gone off the rails!

[delisen]

63. Fetterman insults Alvin Bragg ?

Is he serious?

[Dawson Leery]

64. Fetterman and Polis are disgusting.

Do not obey in advance!!!

[ForgoTheConsequence]

65. The same guy that hit someone in his giant SUV?

Going 104 MPH.

He is reckless.