Former Biden Advisor Anita Dunn Walks Back Hunter Biden Pardon Statement

Role in Decision-Making Process

• 💡 Anita Dunn stated she was not typically in the room when President Biden made decisions, though she observed him reviewing his decision book a few times on Air Force One.
• 📌 Memos and the decision book were often reviewed at night, with the President taking the notebook home.
• 🔑 Staff members like Chief of Staff Bruce Reed or Jake Sullivan (for foreign policy) were sometimes present during these reviews.

Involvement in Press and Communications

• 💬 Dunn confirmed she physically gave President Biden decision memos related to press interviews and communications pieces, which would have a 'yes/no/let's discuss' indicator.
• ⚠️ While a formal process was usually followed for press-related actions, there were instances where statements had to be handed directly to the President for immediate review and changes.

Executive Actions and Policy Discussions

• 🚫 Dunn does not recall physically giving President Biden the decision book or memos for executive actions outside of press and communications.
• 🔬 She also does not recall receiving them back after his review for such actions.
• 🧩 While acknowledging 'ever is a big word,' Dunn stated she does not recall specific times she was involved in the decision process for executive orders beyond press communications, nor in policy discussions outside her portfolio.

COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate and Pardons

• 💉 Dunn does not remember being part of decision memos for the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for the armed forces, but recalls being involved in the communications strategy around it.
• 📜 She was involved in staff discussions regarding pardons or clemency decisions, specifically those concerning individuals in federal prison for long sentences due to relatively minor drug offenses, consistent with a campaign pledge.
• ⚖️ These specific pardon discussions were limited to marijuana-related offenses.

Hunter Biden Pardon Statement

• 🗣️ When asked about discussions regarding President Biden pardoning his son, Hunter Biden, Dunn stated she does not remember being part of those discussions, except to the extent the press was asking and the President said no.
• ❓ Regarding a CNN interview where she stated the White House was not part of the pardon process, Dunn said she didn't remember saying that, and any knowledge she had would have been second-hand, adding, 'If I said that, I probably shouldn't have.'
• 🗓️ She eventually agreed with the decision to pardon his son but disagreed with the timing and the attack on the judicial system.