Bernie Scolaro is a retired school counselor, a past president of the Sioux City Education Association, and former Sioux City school board member.

We do not always have all the information when we first make a decision. After further review and consideration, the ability to change your mind is not always easy, maybe even embarrassing. But changing your mind does not mean you lied.

I remember high school seniors struggling with where to go to college. As a high school counselor, I always wanted to make sure that seniors knew that if they made a decision, it did not mean that they had to stay there for four years if they realized it was not for them.

As an Iowa school board member, I remember thinking I was going to vote one way for something until more info made me realize that I needed to change the way I was voting. It was not any intention to deceive anyone. It was having a growth mindset, and realizing that I, like my district students, needed to always be open to learning.

When President Joe Biden said he would not pardon his son, we believed him. Even if the prosecutors went after Hunter mainly because he was a Biden. President Biden has always respected the judicial process, and we expected nothing less from him. He chose not to wield his power even when the Supreme Court recently handed presidents immunity.

It was surprising to many when Biden pardoned his son over Thanksgiving weekend. I respected him for saying that he would not pardon him, but I also respect him for eventually doing so. Biden was not just parroting the words he thought would placate voters, but I believe he sincerely planned on letting Hunter serve his jail time.

So, what changed? Donald Trump won the election, and announced on November 30 that he would name Kash Patel as FBI director. Hours later, the president pardoned his son, saying in a statement that he “made this decision this weekend.”

Trump has long talked about returning to office and going after his political opponents. He lacks compassion and morality. He disregards law and order unless it serves him personally. He gawks admiringly at Russian President Vladimir Putin and other autocrats. He sees how Putin seizes ultimate “control” over his rivals and critics, even killing them as he did with opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in prison.

Why would Biden subject his son to a Trump unjust justice system, which is being set up to punish political adversaries and perceived “enemies”? Why would you, when you have the opportunity as a father and president, not save your son from the incoming all-powerful, unhinged man convicted of 34 felonies?

These are not ordinary times. The next four years will test democracy, the separation of powers, and human decency. We must be able to stand up for those we care about. Biden knew it was a now or never situation. The risk of having his son in jail and at the whim of Trump was not a risk worth taking. I agree.

---

Top photo from the Department of Defense was taken by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Carlos M. Vazquez II, published on the Flickr account of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.