Biden’s Clemency Test: Mercy for One, Justice for All?
David Vogel
Solar Energy Mentor I Streamlining Federal Grant Approvals & Material Distribution for Commercial Solar Projects I Retired CEO Project SunRize I Pastor Church of Unity Society
Dear Mindful Leader,
Imagine this: it’s Christmas Eve. The air hums with the sounds of carols, lights twinkle across frost-tipped branches, and families gather to celebrate the season of hope and forgiveness.
Yet, amidst the warmth and joy, 10,520 clemency petitions lie untouched, buried in bureaucracy, each representing lives and families fractured by a system that promises mercy but rarely delivers.
This season of goodwill and reflection brings us to the crossroads of mercy, politics, and justice, embodied by President Joe Biden’s controversial pardon of his son, Hunter.
As a father, I understand his decision. If any one of my four sons faced such overwhelming odds, I wouldn’t hesitate. My hand would sign that paper, my heart bearing the weight of public opinion for the sake of love.
And in doing so, I would pray for understanding.
But this moment is not merely about Hunter Biden.
It’s about the broken promise of clemency in America—a promise Biden himself pledged to fix when he sought the nation’s highest office. And now, as we approach the season of mercy, we must ask: who else is deserving of that same compassion?
A Broken System, A Stalled Tradition
When President Biden pardoned Hunter, it wasn’t just an act of paternal love; it was a spotlight on the American clemency process—a system steeped in tradition yet paralyzed by inaction. The Constitution grants presidents unparalleled power to offer mercy, a power designed to counterbalance justice with humanity. Historically, this has culminated in a ritual of last-minute pardons as presidents leave office. Abraham Lincoln once said, “I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.”
Yet mercy today feels reserved for the elite. Exactly 10,520 clemency petitions sit unanswered on the president’s desk, some filed years ago.
Many applicants are low-level offenders, trapped by outdated sentencing laws, or individuals who’ve demonstrated extraordinary rehabilitation. They aren’t Hunter Biden, and they lack his spotlight. They are the forgotten—deserving of clemency but invisible in a system that prioritizes political expediency over justice.
Hunter’s Pardon: A Just Act Amidst Political Firestorms
Critics on both sides of the aisle have denounced the pardon as cronyism, accusing Biden of shielding his family while others languish in prison. The right cries foul, arguing this is hypocrisy from an administration that preached judicial independence. The left whispers unease, mindful of the promise that justice would remain blind, even for a president’s son.
But let’s step back. Hunter Biden’s charges—tax evasion and lying on a federal gun application—have become political footballs.
Like Trump’s prosecutions, these cases reek of partisanship, and as a nation, we should condemn the weaponization of justice.
Biden’s pardon isn’t just an act of mercy; it’s an indictment of a system corrupted by politics.
Hunter wasn’t treated fairly, but neither were the thousands of others trapped in this flawed process. And that’s the rub: if Hunter deserved clemency—and I believe he did—then what about everyone else?
What about the single mother serving a life sentence for a nonviolent drug offense?
The veteran imprisoned for a moment of poor judgment but who’s turned his life around?
These stories, no less human, no less heartbreaking, remain ignored.
The Season of Mercy: A Call to Action
Christmas is the season of mercy. It’s a time when we look to stories of redemption, from Dickens’ Scrooge to the ultimate tale of forgiveness in the Bible. As a nation, we pride ourselves on second chances.
And yet, how do we reconcile this with the backlog of clemency petitions gathering dust?
President Biden pledged reform. He promised a streamlined clemency process, one that would address systemic inequities and prioritize fairness.
But the clock is ticking, and promises unfulfilled become legacies tarnished. If mercy is the hallmark of leadership, then the Biden administration has an extraordinary opportunity to act—not just for Hunter but for the 10,520 waiting in the shadows.
An Unforgiving Landscape
I’ve dedicated multiple issues of Mindful Ethics to clemency, dissecting its moral and ethical complexities.
But today, let’s imagine something new.
What if, this Christmas, Biden initiated a mass pardon—not as a gesture of political theater but as an act of national healing?
What if he resurrected the spirit of Lincoln and granted clemency to the deserving, demonstrating that mercy isn’t a privilege for the powerful but a right for the reformed?
Consider the impact: 10,520 families reunited.
Communities strengthened.
An acknowledgment that redemption is possible, even in a nation that often forgets the humanity behind the headlines.
A Story of Hope
Let me leave you with a story—a true one.
In 1862, during the Civil War, President Lincoln reviewed cases of soldiers sentenced to death for desertion. One such case involved a young man who fled in fear. The generals demanded execution, citing discipline and order. But Lincoln, known for his compassion, pardoned the soldier, saying, “I am trying to take care of the boys. I will put my trust in them.”
Years later, that young soldier distinguished himself in battle, proving Lincoln’s trust was well-placed.
Mercy doesn’t just save lives; it transforms them.
Imagine the lives waiting to be transformed today if only we had the courage to act.
A Challenge to Our Leaders—and Ourselves
As we navigate these debates, let us remember that mercy is not weakness; it is strength.
It requires courage to forgive, to trust, and to extend grace where it is most needed. President Biden’s pardon of his son may be controversial, but it serves as a reminder of the power of mercy—a power we must demand be exercised fairly and expansively.
This Christmas, let’s hold our leader accountable to the promise he made.
Let’s call for action on clemency, for the thousands who wait, and for a nation that must choose between justice tempered with humanity or a system hardened by indifference.
And let’s reflect on our own capacity for mercy. In a world so quick to judge, perhaps the greatest gift we can give is grace. After all, as the season reminds us, we are all in need of a second chance.
Yours in Reflection,
David
P.S.This is not something I ever thought I’d share publicly, but today, I’m taking a leap of faith.
I’ve petitioned for a pardon, asserting my actual innocence of the charges that changed the course of my life.
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I created a private video for Liz Oyer, the Pardon Attorney—a raw, unfiltered 2 minutes and 13 seconds where I lay out exactly why I’m innocent and why I deserve clemency.
This video wasn’t meant for the world to see. It was my plea, my chance to be heard by someone who could change everything. But today, I’m sharing it with all of you.
Why?
Because I believe in truth, in vulnerability, and in the power of this community to stand with me in hope.
This isn’t just a video; it’s my fight for justice. It’s the battle cry of a man who refuses to let the past define his future.
Watch it here:
P.P.S. Imagine waking up one day to find the government had rewritten the rules—just for you.
Not to clarify the law.
Not to ensure justice.
But to destroy your life.
This isn’t a hypothetical. It’s my reality. My story. And it’s one you won’t forget.
My petition for clemency isn’t just another legal plea; it’s a jaw-dropping exposé of injustice so outrageous, it borders on the surreal.
I’m talking about a case so mind-bendingly unfair, so riddled with misconduct, that it might be the most extraordinary clemency request ever submitted.
Let’s start with the facts: I am actually innocent. Not kind-of, not sort-of, but truly, undeniably innocent. This isn’t hyperbole. It’s the truth.
Justice Scalia once said, “It is unfair to prosecute a man for a crime that wasn’t defined until after the judicial decision that sent him to jail.” My case goes beyond unfair.
It’s an ethical and legal atrocity.
Before charges were ever filed, my attorney—Douglas Grover, a renowned former mob fighter and Deputy Chief of Bobby Kennedy’s Organized Crime Strike Force—contacted the government on my behalf. Grover wasn’t just doing his due diligence; he was trying to prevent a problem. He sought an advisory opinion on my business practices, asking directly if I was breaking any laws.
The government’s response?
Silence.
They couldn’t say my practices were illegal because they weren’t.
And then came the twist.
At the time, the government had a publicly accessible website that specifically described the exact business practices I was engaging in—practices they endorsed as lawful.
But when they decided I was their target, they didn’t just shift the goalposts. They dismantled the entire field.
That website?
Vanished.
Taken down.
Erased.
And suddenly, the very conduct they had once deemed proper was rebranded as criminal. No warning. No rule change. Just a full-blown prosecution for doing exactly what they’d said was legal.
Does this sound unbelievable? Like a story too wild to be true? I don’t blame you for feeling skeptical.
But here’s the thing:
76 million Americans voted for a man convicted of 34 felony indictments.
Why?
Because trust in our justice system has eroded.
Politics drives prosecution, and everyone knows it. It’s not a fringe conspiracy. It’s the bitter reality of our times.
If you think Donald Trump’s story is one of political persecution, you need to read mine. It’s all here: the evidence, the raw truth, the infuriating facts.
This is bigger than my case. It’s about a government that changes the rules at will, targeting individuals without accountability. If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.
Here’s the link to my actual Petition for Clemency—READ IT PLEASE!
You don’t have to take my word for it. Examine the facts yourself.
Ask yourself: Can you trust a system that erases its own rules to prosecute the innocent?
When the facts don't fit the theory ignore the facts! That is exactly what the government did in my case.
I’ve laid it all bare. Now, you be the judge.
Your thoughts, your prayers, and your support mean more than I can express.
One More Thing . . .
?????? ? If you don’t know who I am, my name is David Vogel, retired CEO turned LinkedIn influencer and Founder of the Church of Unity Society. Six mornings a week Live at 7 AM, I preach to the C-suite, igniting their spirits with the power of God. As the publisher of Mindful Ethics, the unapologetic voice of ethics on LinkedIn, I challenge leaders to elevate their game, lead with heart, and redefine what it means to live with purpose.
? Published by: David Vogel, in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire