Hochul: 'I'm not going to criticize the president'

Full list: 50 more bills were sent to Hochul's desk Monday.

Good afternoon — it’s Monday and Special Education Day.

In today’s CapCon:

• Gov. Kathy Hochul defended President Joseph R. Biden’s pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, and said she’s considering the Climate Superfund Act.

• Full list: 50 more bills were sent to Hochul’s desk for consideration Monday.

• Q&A: Why state Sen. James Skoufis says he wants to chair the Democratic National Committee.

• Omer Neutra, a Long Islander thought to be a hostage of Hamas, actually died in the Oct. 7 attacks, Israel said Monday.

• This Week in New York History: Toilet paper, the New York Philharmonic and the first weather report.

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🦃 I hope you all had a wonderful, relaxing Thanksgiving. Just a reminder that if you refer your friends to CapCon this holiday season, you can get up to six months free.

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Biden and Hochul in 2022 (New York Governor’s Office)

🗣️ Hochul defends Hunter Biden pardon, says she’s undecided on Climate Superfund Act

With Turkey Day out of the way, it’s officially the season of giving. And, if you hadn’t seen, Hunter Biden received the gift of a pardon Sunday from his father, President Joseph R. Biden.

That was a surprise because the president had previously said he would not use his pardoning power to help his son escape convictions secured by federal prosecutors this year.

Republicans from New York, and elsewhere, pounced on the news Sunday night into Monday, making quips about Biden’s about-face.

“Biden is a lying dog-faced pony soldier!” Rep. Claudia Tenney from central New York said, seemingly in reference to when Biden said the same thing to a voter.

“Of course he pardoned his son, but President Biden's protection of Hunter is total BS,” Rep. Marc Molinaro from the Hudson Valley said.

“No one can fault Biden for protecting his son or for feeling that he was mistreated by DOJ — however, this is why he should have stopped the weaponization of DOJ against Trump,” said Rep. Mike Lawler from the lower Hudson Valley.

I didn’t see any criticism of Biden on the part of Democrats in Congress. Feel free to send any along if you see it.

But Gov. Kathy Hochul stood by Biden Monday when asked about the pardon at a press event, saying President-elect Donald J. Trump used the same power more liberally during his first term.