The View may have tucked into a festive feast provided by chef Bobby Flay at the start of today’s Thanksgiving-themed episode, but after a few bites of smoked salmon quesadilla, it was right down to business.
The Hot Topics panel launched into a debate about whether or not President Joe Biden should pardon his son Hunter Biden before he leaves office in January. Hunter was convicted in June on three felonies linked to the purchase of a gun in 2018. In September, he pleaded guilty to tax offenses, admitting he avoided paying over $1 million in income taxes between 2016 and 2019.
Sunny Hostin was strongly in favor of the president pardoning his son, and even argued that Hunter was only indicted on the charges in the first place because of his famous family.
“One of the issues that I have is, when you look at the charges that Hunter Biden was indicted on, less than .09% of the population is indicted on that charge,” she began, referring to the gun charges. “And so it’s basically close to zero. So I actually think that the only reason he was indicted is because his last name is Biden.”
The audience applauded as Hostin continued, “If you look at it like that, then it is the right thing to do to correct course and correct that wrong and pardon his son. The other piece of this is, Hunter Biden has acknowledged his addiction. He is an addict. And in the law there are all sorts of ways to handle people who commit crimes because of their addiction.”
Hunter has been forthcoming about his addiction, which was detailed during his June trial. Hallie Biden, his ex-girlfriend, alleged Hunter bought rocks of crack cocaine in Washington and would keep them in his car or backpack. He has been sober since 2019, per the Associated Press.
Hostin told the panel on today’s show, “There are drug deferment programs, and he should be someone that should be treated a bit differently because of the addiction, and I would support, not only, I think, his pardon on the illegal gun application one, but the other one in California as well.”
Sara Haines agreed, arguing that the president has been through so much over the last few months that “the one thing” she would wish for him is to say, “‘I’m out, and so is Hunter.’”
As for Joy Behar, she suggested another Biden family member should be pardoned, too: the dog that bit Secret Service agents, Commander.
Alyssa Farah Griffin chimed in with a laugh, “Yeah, justice for Commander Biden! That I’m on board with.”
The View airs weekdays at 11/10c on ABC.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.
The post ‘The View’s Sunny Hostin Says President Biden Should Pardon His Son Hunter: “Only Reason He Was Indicted Is Because His Last Name Is Biden” appeared first on Decider.
