Opinion | The author's opinion does not necessarily reflect Sarah Palin's view.
U.S. Senator-elect Adam Schiff has fallen under scrutiny after his past remarks about President-elect Donald Trump came back into the spotlight, especially concerning Trump’s possible pardons for his family members. In a 2018 interview, Schiff claimed that if Trump pardoned anyone involved in an investigation where he was a witness, it could constitute obstruction of justice.
Schiff said, “In the event that the president pardons anyone in an investigation in which the president is a witness, the subject, or the target, those investigative files would all be turned over to the Congress. The Congress ought to know whether the president is using the pardon power to obstruct justice. The American people have a right to know.”
He added, “I think it is clearly constitutional. It doesn’t prevent him from granting a pardon, even a pardon he shouldn’t grant, but it does say that we will be able to at least find out whether the president is using this power to shield himself.”
The video has come to light following President Joe Biden’s highly controversial pardon of his son, Hunter Biden. Critics have labeled the move a historic example of political favoritism.
The pardon covers Hunter’s felony convictions and any crimes committed between January 2014 and December 2024, raising questions about Biden’s credibility after his repeated denials of plans to pardon Hunter.
Constitutional law professor Jonathan Turley stated, “The pardon-and-apology approach might appeal to Biden not only as an effort to convert vice into virtue but to justify his withdrawal from the election as a selfless act.”
Turley added, “The pardon power was written in absolute terms, and a president can even, in my view, pardon himself. However, what is constitutional is not necessarily ethical or right.”
Turley stated, “This is one of the most disgraceful pardons even in the checkered history of presidential pardons.”
The decision comes amid years of allegations surrounding Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings, which reportedly involved millions in payments, luxury gifts, and questionable loans. Evidence, including photos and records, contradicts Biden’s claims of ignorance about his son’s activities.
Turley said, “President Biden has lied to cover up a corruption scandal that reportedly brought his family millions in raw influence peddling.”
Throughout his presidency, Biden denied knowledge of Hunter’s dealings and dismissed corruption allegations as baseless attacks. However, reports reveal that discussions about a potential pardon began as early as June 2024. Critics argued that the reversal undermines Biden’s legacy and raises ethical concerns about the use of presidential powers.
