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California’s Democratic leaders have voiced strong disapproval of President Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter, marking a significant break from party solidarity. Governor Gavin Newsom expressed his dismay, recalling Biden’s previous assurance that such a pardon would not be granted.

“I take him at his word but this is not consistent with his word, and I’m a bit confused by it all,” Newsom told reporters during a visit to Nevada in support of Biden’s 2024 re-election campaign.

Representative Adam Schiff, another prominent Democrat, joined in criticizing the president’s action. His concerns stem from his long-standing advocacy for transparency in presidential pardons, particularly those involving family members. Previously, Schiff had backed legislation requiring detailed explanations for pardons granted to presidential relatives.

“It sent a terrible message,” Schiff remarked in a recent interview. “And I think it makes it that much harder to criticize if Trump follows through with his promise to pardon January 6 defendants en masse.”

Both Democratic leaders emphasized that this decision could have far-reaching consequences for future administrations. Their primary concern centers on the precedent this sets, particularly given former President Trump’s stated intentions regarding pardons for January 6 participants. The criticism from these key Democratic figures represents a rare instance of public disagreement with Biden’s executive decisions.