While nothing can be done to undo Joe Biden's corrupt blanket pardon of his son Hunter, the president is paying a steep price in the court of public opinion.
62% of registered voters oppose the pardon, including 41% who "strongly" disapprove, according to a poll from the Napolitan News Service. Just 30% agreed with Biden's move, the Washington Examiner reported.
The lame-duck Biden was already leaving office as an unpopular, failed president before he abused his authority to protect his family on his way out the door.
Hunter Biden was facing sentencing for federal tax and gun crimes when he received a lucky break from his father last weekend.
The sweeping, 11-year pardon covers any federal crimes Hunter Biden committed or "may have committed" starting in January 2014 - the same year Hunter joined the board of notorious Ukrainian company Burisma Holdings while his father was vice president.
Before pardoning his son, Biden had repeatedly said he would let the justice system prevail. His decision to break that pledge to serve his private interests has fueled backlash and anger, including from some in his own party who say he is indirectly helping President-elect Trump.
While announcing the pardon, Biden claimed that his son was the target of political pressure, echoing Trump's rhetoric about justice being weaponized against him.
"From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted," Biden said.
Despite Biden's claims that his son was treated unfairly, 54% of voters disagree, the poll found.
On the other hand, respondents were more likely to sympathize with Trump: 46% agreed that the Justice Department targeted him unfairly, more than the 42% who disagreed.
While Biden's defenders try to justify his pardon as the act of a loving father, it is clear that his decision has done grave damage to his already tarnished public image.
Indeed, pollster Scott Rasmussen said even Democrats are re-evaluating his legacy as the party reckons with Trump's 2024 comeback, which some Democrats have blamed on Biden's decision to seek re-election.
“In this hyper-partisan world, it’s stunning that only 52% of Democrats support the president’s pardon," Rasmussen said.
"This is just the beginning of partisan re-evaluation. I suspect the anger at Biden among Democrats is ready to bubble over. Over time, the party will come to believe that the only reason they lost in 2024 is because Biden selfishly tried to run for re-election,” Rasmussen continued.
