Joe Biden’s era in office has been a continuous ride of absurd hypocrisy, incompetence, and head-scratching decisions. But his recent flurry of clemency? That’s more than a twist; that’s a complete derailment. Of all the pardons and commutations Biden issued, one jumps out like a sore thumb: Leonard Peltier, the Native American activist convicted in 1977 of killing two FBI agents. Peltier’s case has been a flashpoint for controversy for decades, with global leaders, human rights activists, and legal experts decrying his conviction as flimsy at best and a miscarriage of justice at worst.
For the record, if Peltier is innocent, his almost 50 years behind bars is an unspeakable tragedy. The FBI received no help, forewent supporting evidence, and transformed the case into a symbol of institutional bias. Fine. But if Joe Biden is now the champion of justice, why does his mercy seem so selective?
Justice for Some: Biden’s Agenda of Neglect
There are good headlines and there is good substance, and Leonard Peltier’s clemency might read well, but let’s examine Biden’s record. Biden is issuing pardons like candy while hundreds of J6 protesters rot in prison. Some were detained pretrial for years, saddled with draconian sentences for crimes that pale compared to what we witnessed during the 2020 riots. Remember the “Summer of Love?” Billions in damages, lives lost, entire neighborhoods burned to the ground — and the perpetrators were treated like misunderstood freedom fighters.
Compare that to the January 6 protesters, many of whom have been demonized, dehumanized, and denied due process. Was there a coordinated insurrection? No. Were these people armed? No. But their sentences are wildly out of proportion, imposed in no case based on evidence but rather on political optics. Biden’s DOJ sought examples to make, and it did.
If Joe Biden really loves a second chance and righting wrongs, why are acts of mercy only granted in politically prescribed cases? Why is a Native American activist worthy of clemency and a retired grandma that walked into the Capitol building given the treatment of a domestic terrorist?
THE Elephant in the Room: Biden’s Pardons for Convicted Chinese Spies
Let’s discuss something even more astonishing. Everyone’s watching Leonard Peltier, but what’s on Biden’s clemency grocery list in addition to a long-dead Native American activist? Convicted Chinese spies, among other things. Yes, you read that right. Spies who sold out this country, compromised national security, and, oh yeah, possessed 47,000 images of child pornography, too.
Are these the type of people Biden believes in? These pardons don’t only smell like bad judgment; they raise serious questions as to whom this administration is actually serving. Whereas everyday Americans are punished to the fullest extent of the law for far lesser crimes, convicted foreign operatives get an executive branch get-out-of-jail-free card. Why? What’s the logic here? Never mind that — what’s the goal here?
Now cast your mind back a few months to October 23. Biden’s clemency spree is a lot more than a list of names; it’s a window into his character — or the lack of it. And this is the same man who built his political career on being “tough on crime.” In the early 1990s, Biden touted the 1994 Crime Bill, a piece of legislation that disproportionately wreaked havoc on minority communities. He boasted of throwing people in prison for small-time drug offenses, breaking up families, and shattering lives.
Now here we are, and Biden suddenly wants to act like the compassionate reformer. How convenient. It’s not justice; it’s political theater. And as long as we’re on double standards, let’s not forget Hunter Biden.
Hunter’s list of accusations sounds like a bad crime drama — drug abuse, illegal gun possession, questionable overseas business dealings, even sex trafficking. But his only punishment has been a light tap on the wrist. Compare that to the million lives Joe Biden has destroyed over the decades with his own draconian policies. If you’re confused about why Biden’s clemency doesn’t seem genuine, there you have it: it doesn’t.
Timing is Everything
Maybe the most infuriating aspect of all this is the timing. Biden didn’t make those decisions midway through his presidency when he could’ve faced real scrutiny. Not so, he waited until the 11th hour, when his political capital was already depleted and his administration was in freefall. That’s not leadership; it’s damage control. Biden’s legacy is in shambles, and he’s racing to revise the narrative before time runs out.
But here’s the thing: Americans are not stupid. We see through this charade. Biden’s newfound interest in clemency has nothing to do with justice; it’s just political optics. It’s about diverting attention from his administration’s failures — from rampant inflation to the border crisis to international humiliations like Afghanistan and Ukraine.
What’s Next?
This goes way beyond Leonard Peltier or Hunter Biden or even the Chinese spies Biden somehow let off the hook. This is about the fundamental unfairness of a weaponized justice system. It’s about a president who lectures the country on unity while dividing it at every opportunity. And it’s about the American people, who are left wondering whether there is even such a thing as the rule of law anymore.
So the real question is this: If Biden is free to excuse spies and free up convicted killers, what else is he willing to do and who else is he willing to help in the name of political expediency? How deep is this hypocrisy? One thing is certain: Joe Biden’s clemency spree is not an instance of moral leadership — it is the last-ditch effort to salvage a legacy that, to begin with, was never worth saving.
