Staff Reporter
In a dramatic and controversial move during his final moments in office, former US President Joe Biden issued an Executive Grant of Clemency, granting full and unconditional pardons to several members of his family.
The clemency, which mirrors Biden’s earlier pardon of his son Hunter Biden, extends to five additional family members: James B. Biden, Sara Jones Biden, Valerie Biden Owens, John T. Owens, and Francis W. Biden.
According to the text of the pardon, the family members are absolved of “any non-violent offenses against the United States which they may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014, through the date of this pardon.”
Self-exiled political commentator Jonathan Moyo wrote on his X handle yesterday and criticised Biden for nepotism and hypocrisy .
Moyo accused Biden of once again exposing the US political system as no better than a "banana republic" by prioritizing family ties over principles of accountability and justice.
“In a shocking last-minute exit move as he was leaving the White House for good, former US President Joe Biden yet again displayed his nepotism… proving for the umpteenth time that politics in the US is banana republic stuff,” Moyo wrote.
The controversial pardons have prompted strong reactions from observers, including notable figures and netizens who have drawn parallels between US actions and the international scrutiny often directed at developing nations like Zimbabwe.
Prominent Space X user, Mkandatsama Lazarus, lambasted the perceived double standards of those who champion Western democracy, highlighting that similar actions in Zimbabwe would have sparked an international outcry.
“If this type of Executive Grant of Clemency had happened in Zimbabwe, people like @bbmhlanga, @nelsonchamisa, @freemanchari, @JobSikhala1, @CucsmanM, @namataik_, @advocatemahere, @Cde_Ostallos would be making a lot of noise, tagging @USEmbZim, @EU_Commission, etc. Ma dununu,” he Xeeted.
Netizen @mashamba echoed similar sentiments, questioning the Western democratic ideals often held up as a global standard.
“Those who parrot Western democracy, here is the ugly side of it. Dictatorship is practiced within the law in a patrimonial fashion. None can raise a finger,” he wrote.
The pardons have cast a shadow on the US's often-proclaimed commitment to transparency and accountability, with critics calling out the hypocrisy of a nation that frequently lectures others on democratic governance.
Observers argue that such moves reveal the flaws in a system that allows legal mechanisms to be used for personal or familial gain, undermining the integrity of public office.
Had a similar situation occurred in Zimbabwe, analysts argue, it would have been met with international condemnation, amplified by local activists and political figures calling for accountability.
In contrast, Biden’s actions have raised few alarms within the US political system, prompting questions about double standards and selective outrage.
This incident highlights the growing scepticism over Western democracy and its perceived moral high ground.
While the US often portrays itself as a global beacon of good governance, incidents like these expose vulnerabilities in its own system, eroding its credibility on the international stage.
As debates rage on about the limits of executive power and the role of nepotism in governance, Biden’s pardons remain a glaring reminder of the complex and often contradictory nature of modern democracy.
