Sen. Jon Tester is growing impatient with reporters as his time in Congress winds down. He recently lost his Montana Senate seat, a position he’s held for years.
On Sunday, President Biden issued a pardon for his son, Hunter Biden. The pardon covered any crimes Hunter “committed or may have committed” between January 2014 and December 2024.
On Monday, Tester was asked about the controversial pardon. His response was blunt. “I’m one month from getting the f— out of here,” he said with a smile, according to CNN and other outlets. “Ask somebody who counts.”
This reaction comes a month after Tester lost his seat to Republican Navy SEAL Sen.-elect Tim Sheehy. The Montana race was one of the most closely watched in the 2024 cycle.
Tester avoided directly addressing the question. Meanwhile, many Democrats in Congress have spoken out against Biden’s decision to pardon his son. Their criticism has been sharp.
“President Biden’s decision to pardon his son was wrong,” said Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich. “A president’s family and allies shouldn’t get special treatment. This was an improper use of power, it erodes trust in our government, and it emboldens others to bend justice to suit their interests,” he wrote on X.
Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., echoed Peters’ sentiment. He said the pardon “further erodes Americans’ faith that the justice system is fair and equal for all.”
Despite the controversy, Tester appears to be counting down his days in Congress. His response suggests he’s ready to move on, leaving others to weigh in on the contentious pardon.