The nomination of Kash Patel, who has vowed to pursue Trump’s critics, as FBI director has heightened concerns within the president’s inner circle.

The White House said on Monday that President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter in part because of concern his political opponents would continue to persecute the younger Biden in the future, as a growing chorus of Democrats and Republicans criticized his decision.

President Biden and the White House have emphatically insisted the president wouldn’t pardon his son, Hunter Biden. But all of that changed Sunday, when Biden announced he would indeed grant leniency on Hunter,