A July video showing Hunter Biden chuckling confidently when a reporter asked him whether he was expecting a pardon has raised questions about whether he knew a pardon was coming despite President Joe Biden and others saying he would not pardon his son. 

Hunter Biden was shown in a 30-second clip smiling and turning away when he was asked about a pardon after he was convicted on 3 felony gun charges and before he pleaded guilty to tax evasion.

 

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He didn't seem at all worried about the possibility of up to 17 years in jail, with more added for subsequent charges if he is convicted.

Pardon issued

His confidence did not turn out to be misplaced; the president pardoned his son Sunday night with one of the broadest pardons a president has ever given.

It's highly unlikely Hunter Biden will ever be brought to justice for his crimes, unless he's dumb enough to commit more of them.

The video has raised questions about whether the president told his son that a pardon was forthcoming; and if not, what exactly that smirk meant.

If Joe Biden didn't intend to pardon Hunter until shortly before he actually did it, why was his son smirking?

Leverage

It's possible that Hunter Biden knew his father would have to do something to get him out of the charges against him--otherwise, what choice would he have but to tell everything he knows about dear old dad's bribery schemes and the millions in payouts that House Republicans uncovered, but couldn't get traction on proving to the public's satisfaction.

In reality, Hunter Biden could hold what he knew over his father's head, giving him a lot of power in the situation.

That's why bribery is such a serious crime, besides the obvious unfairness of rigging the system.

Anyone who accepts a bribe can always be blackmailed or extorted, and that may very well have happened to the leader of the free world.

Joe Biden was protecting himself by pardoning Hunter.

He had the power to do it, but it could end up tarnishing his legacy and making him look even worse than he already does.