The president pardoned Hunter Biden late Sunday evening, reversing his previous pledges with a grant of clemency that covers more than a decade of any federal crimes his son might have committed. The 82-year-old president said in a statement that his son’s prosecution on charges of tax evasion and falsifying a federal weapons purchase form were politically motivated. “He believes in the justice system, but he also believes that politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who along with Biden and other White House officials insisted for months that Hunter Biden would not get a pardon . That explanation did not satisfy some Democrats, angry that Biden’s reversal could make it harder to take on Trump , who has argued that multiple indictments and one conviction against him were a matter of Biden and Democrats turning the justice system against him. “This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis wrote of Biden on the social media platform X. “When you become President, your role is Pater familias of the nation,” the governor continued, a reference to the president invoking fatherhood in explaining his decision. “Hunter brought the legal trouble he faced on himself, and one can sympathize with his struggles while also acknowledging that no one is above the law, not a President and not a President’s son.” Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., said on X: “This wasn’t a politically motivated prosecution. Hunter committed felonies and was convicted by a jury of his peers.” Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Biden “put personal interest ahead of duty” with a decision that “further erodes Americans’ faith that the justice system is fair and equal for all.” Michigan Sen. Gary Peters said the pardon was “an improper use of power” that erodes faith in government and “emboldens others to bend justice to suit their interests.” Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., called the pardon “understandable” if viewed only as the “action of a loving father.” But Biden's status as “our nation's Chief Executive," the senator said, rendered the move “unwise.” Certainly, the president has Democratic defenders who note Trump’s use of presidential power to pardon a slew of his convicted aides, associates and friends, several for activities tied to Trump’s campaign and first administration. “Trump pardoned Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn and Paul Manafort, as well as his son-in-law’s father, Charles Kushner — who he just appointed US ambassador to France,” wrote prominent Democratic fundraiser Jon Cooper on X. Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison said there “is no standard for Donald Trump, and the highest standard for Democrats and Joe Biden.” Harrison pointed to Trump's apparent plans to oust FBI Director Christopher Wray and replace him with loyalist Kash Patel and suggested the GOP's pursuit of Hunter Biden would not have ended without clemency. “Most people will see that Joe Biden did what was right,” Harrison said. First lady Jill Biden said Monday from the White House, “Of course I support the pardon of my son.” Democrats already are facing the prospects of a Republican trifecta in Washington, with voters returning Trump to the White House and giving the GOP control of the House and Senate. Part of their argument against Trump and Republican leaders is expected to be that the president-elect is violating norms with his talk of taking retribution against his enemies. Before beating Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump faced his own legal troubles, including two cases that stemmed from his efforts to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. Those cases, including Trump’s sentencing after being convicted on New York state business fraud charges, have either been dismissed or indefinitely delayed since Trump’s victory on Nov. 5, forcing Democrats to recalibrate their approach to the president-elect. In June, President Biden firmly ruled out a pardon or commutation for his son, telling reporters as his son faced trial in the Delaware gun case: “I abide by the jury decision. I will do that and I will not pardon him.” As recently as Nov. 8, days after Trump’s victory, Jean-Pierre ruled out a pardon or clemency for the younger Biden, saying: “We’ve been asked that question multiple times. Our answer stands, which is no.” The president’s about-face came weeks before Hunter Biden was set to receive his punishment after his trial conviction in the gun case and guilty plea on tax charges. It capped a long-running legal saga for the younger Biden, who disclosed he was under federal investigation in December 2020 — a month after his father’s 2020 victory. The sweeping pardon covers not just the gun and tax offenses against the younger Biden, but also any other “offenses against the United States which he has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014, through December 1, 2024.” Hunter Biden was convicted in June in Delaware federal court of three felonies for purchasing a gun in 2018 when , prosecutors said, he lied on a federal form by claiming he was not illegally using or addicted to drugs. He had been set to stand trial in September in a California case accusing him of failing to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes. But he agreed to plead guilty to misdemeanor and felony charges in a surprise move hours after jury selection was set to begin. In his statement Sunday, the president argued that such offenses typically are not prosecuted with the same vigor as was directed against Hunter Biden. “The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election,” Biden said in his statement. “No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son. ... I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision.” Associated Press journalists Will Weissert aboard Air Force One and Darlene Superville, Mary Claire Jalonick and Michael Tackett in Washington contributed to this report.Norfolk Flock system — with 172 cameras — passes constitutional muster, city maintains
PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 12, 2024-- Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (NYSE: PNW) announced today that Pinnacle West and Arizona Public Service (APS) Chairman and CEO Jeff Guldner will retire as Chairman of the Board, CEO and board member on March 31, 2025, after 5 years of leading the company. APS President Ted Geisler will assume the roles of Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Pinnacle West and APS effective April 1, 2025. Guldner will remain employed by Pinnacle West in a non-executive advisory capacity to support a smooth transition through the end of March 2026. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241212666520/en/ Pinnacle West and Arizona Public Service (APS) Chairman and CEO Jeff Guldner will retire as Chairman of the Board, CEO and board member on March 31, 2025, after 5 years of leading the company. Guldner will remain employed by Pinnacle West in a non-executive advisory capacity to support a smooth transition through the end of March 2026. (Photo: Business Wire) “We’re incredibly grateful for Jeff’s leadership since joining APS in 2004 as Director of Federal Regulatory Affairs and Compliance through his tenure as CEO,” said Pinnacle West Lead Director Paula Sims. “He cast a strong vision for a carbon-free future, and he initiated efforts to improve our customers’ experience and the long-term financial health of the company - the impacts of which can’t be overstated. Jeff’s passion for APS’s people, customers and the community has left an indelible mark. “Following a thoughtful succession planning process, we are excited to announce Ted Geisler as our next Chairman and CEO,” Sims continued. “Ted brings a unique blend of operational and financial acumen and results-oriented leadership from his breadth of experience across our business. He is well-positioned to build on his success as President of APS, where he drove top-quartile rankings in reliability and customer satisfaction, achieved key regulatory outcomes and set the strategy that’s enabled us to expand and strengthen the grid.” “Over my tenure as CEO, Ted has been a trusted partner and deeply involved in crafting and executing the company’s long-term strategy,” Guldner said of his successor. “No one understands our priorities better, and I have full faith Ted and the team will lead APS and Arizona successfully through the new era of growth that’s upon us.” Geisler has been President of APS since 2022 and has held a series of leadership positions at the company during his 23-year career at APS. “It’s an honor to continue to serve in this new capacity,” Geisler said. “I do so with deep respect and appreciation for Jeff, and for our essential role in powering Arizona’s progress. We have a talented team and a strategy that has reliably delivered outstanding results for our customers, communities and shareholders. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Jeff during the transition and building on the plans in place that have set the stage for APS’s success.” About Ted Geisler Geisler began his career at APS in 2001 and has held positions on the executive team since 2018, including the past two years as President. His leadership journey includes critical roles such as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Information Officer, General Manager of Transmission and Distribution Operations and Director of Corporate Strategy, as well as other key positions across operations and corporate resources. A third-generation Arizonan, Geisler is deeply committed to the community and is currently Chairman of the Board of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and on the board of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC). He sits on the W.P. Carey Dean’s Council at Arizona State University and recently was chosen as the 56th Fighter Wing Command Honorary Commander at Luke Air Force Base. He has previously served on the boards of Chicanos por la Causa and Boys and Girls Club of the Valley. Geisler earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Colorado State University and an MBA from Arizona State University. He is a graduate of the Nuclear Reactor Technology Course at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Strategic Financial Leadership Program at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. About Pinnacle West Capital Corp. Pinnacle West Capital Corp. , an energy holding company based in Phoenix, has consolidated assets of more than $26 billion, about 6,500 megawatts of generating capacity and approximately 6,100 employees in Arizona and New Mexico. Through its principal subsidiary, Arizona Public Service , the company provides retail electricity service to about 1.4 million Arizona homes and businesses. For more information about Pinnacle West, visit the company’s website at pinnaclewest.com . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241212666520/en/ CONTACT: Media Contact: Alan Bunnell (602) 250-3376 Media Hotline (602) 250-2277 Analyst Contact: Amanda Ho (602) 250-3334 Website:pinnaclewest.com KEYWORD: ARIZONA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ENERGY PROFESSIONAL SERVICES UTILITIES FINANCE SOURCE: Pinnacle West Capital Corp. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/12/2024 05:15 PM/DISC: 12/12/2024 05:17 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241212666520/en
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