ESPN star Stephen A. Smith lashed out at President Biden for one part of his decision to pardon his son, Hunter, just weeks before he left the White House.
Biden announced the pardon on Sunday after the first son was convicted of two separate crimes this year. The pardon applies to crimes against the US that Hunter Biden “committed or may have committed” from Jan. 1, 2014, to Dec. 1, 2024.
The ESPN sports analyst opened the latest episode of “The Stephen A. Smith Show” Monday night with a jump on the president’s snap decision.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH ONE OF THE GAMES ON FOXNEWS.COM
“With respect, for the president of the United States, especially as it relates to that statement, he is full,” he said. “I’m going to look right here, in the national air, and look the president of the United States in the face and say, ‘You’re full of it.’
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith (Screenshot/ABC)
Smith explained that he has no problem with the fact that Biden does not want his son to go to prison and was adamant that President-elect Donald Trump would do the same to his sons.
“I said weeks ago, you’re right to let him go. He’s your son, and he’s a recovering addict, and he’s been fighting those demons for years,” Smith said. “And the fact that you’re giving up on your son, I completely understand. Donald Trump would have given up on his son. Anyone would have, or at least a lot of people. I understand that. It’s not a story, sir.
“The issue, and why I say it’s full of it, is because of the excuses you made. It’s just a simple statement, ‘That’s my son. I have the power to forgive him, to show him mercy or whatever. That’s what I do. ‘I do all of you.’ That would be fine with me, that’s your son, that’s your flesh and blood. But what are the other things you said about him?”
Biden said in his statement that he believes his son was “treated differently” in the crimes he was convicted of.
“The charges in his case only appeared after many of my political opponents in Congress incited them to attack me and oppose my election,” the president said. “Then, a carefully negotiated settlement, agreed to by the Department of Justice, was revealed in court – and a number of my political opponents in Congress took credit for bringing political pressure to bear on the process. If the plea agreement had been there, it would have been a fair, reasonable settlement of Hunter’s charges.
Photo shows US President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden leaving a bookstore while shopping in Nantucket, Massachusetts on November 29, 2024. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
SJSU TRANS PLAYER AND VIOLENT TEAM PLAYER THANKS SIN CITY ON LAST TOUR TOGETHER AS CASES CONTINUE
“No reasonable person looking at the facts of Hunter’s case can come to any other conclusion than that Hunter was singled out simply because he is my son – and that is wrong. There has been an attempt to break Hunter – who has been five and a half years sober, despite endless attacks and special prosecutions in trying to break Hunter , they tried to break me – and there is no reason to believe that it will stop here.
Smith dismissed the idea that Hunter Biden was targeted because of the president and argued against him granting the pardon now, after the election, after months of talking about Trump and his trials, tribulations and convictions in the months leading up to the election.
“You didn’t talk about this at the time. In fact, you said you would not pardon your son … before the election. You are announcing it now that we know that Donald Trump is entering and will be sworn in. As the 47th president, you intended to do this, which is not a problem anymore,” he said.
“Because if you look at Donald Trump and how the Democrats are following him … you understand that the Democrats are no longer in a position to say nothing, right? You can talk until the cows come home. You’re blowing your breath. Nobody wants to hear what you’re saying right now. I’m not talking about you, I’m talking about your party.
“Because when you forgive your son, you’re going back on your word, you’re telling the American people there’s no way you’re going to forgive him, when everyone and your great mother knew you were lying and they didn’t charge you with it. Now you’ve confirmed what people believed you would lie about that very thing What you said you wouldn’t do for your son. Go to jail.’ How are you all doing?”
In a statement Sunday night, Hunter said he will “never take for granted the compassion” his father gave him and plans to dedicate his life to helping those suffering from addiction.
“I have admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes during the most difficult days of my addiction – mistakes that were used to humiliate and embarrass me and my family through political games,” wrote the first son.
Hunter Biden (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE FOR THE NEWS PROGRAM
“In the pain of addiction, I wasted many opportunities and many benefits. In recovery we can be given the opportunity to make amends where possible and rebuild our lives if we never take for granted the grace that has been given to us.”
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
