New Delhi [India]: Former diplomat Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha expressed surprise on Monday over what he termed a “delicious irony” in the actions of the US Department of Justice following US President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, for gun crime and tax convictions.
Sinha pointed out the apparent contradictions in the US legal system, particularly in the context of high-profile cases. He referenced the recent indictment of a prominent Indian business figure by the same department for alleged bribery while questioning Biden’s reversal on previously stating he would not pardon his son.
“I must say that I was a bit surprised to read his statement in which he pardoned his son, having in the past said that he would not exercise this Right of Pardon for his son. The reasons he has given surprise me because if the American justice system, the Department of Justice, and the President of the United States don’t have much faith in that system, that is astonishing,” Sinha remarked.
He added, “It is a delicious irony that the same Department of Justice has indicted captains of industry in India from a very big group, accusing them not of bribing but of planning to bribe state governments in India.”
Concerns Over Double Standards and Jurisdiction
Sinha further criticized the perceived double standards and urged the US to avoid extending its jurisdiction beyond its legal authority.
“The main issue here is that we should not follow double standards, especially when you are dealing with foreign countries–do not extend your jurisdiction to countries where you have none,” he stated.
Biden’s Pardon Sparks Controversy
On Sunday, President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of charges related to gun crimes and tax violations. The pardon removes the possibility of sentencing or prison time for these offences.
The decision has sparked criticism, including from US President-elect Donald Trump, who called it a “miscarriage of justice.”