Major Outlet Forced To Retract Story After Embarrassing Mistake

Esquire magazine issued a retraction and apology after publishing a column based on a false claim about former President George H.W. Bush. The mistake created a lot of embarrassment for the publication and renewed scrutiny over the handling of politically charged topics in the media.

The column, written by liberal commentator Charles P. Pierce, sought to justify President Biden’s controversial decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden. Pierce claimed that Hunter was not the first presidential son embroiled in controversy, referencing Neil Bush, the son of George H.W. Bush. The piece argued that critics of Hunter Biden’s pardon should “shut the f*ck up,” asserting that George H.W. Bush had pardoned Neil—a claim that turned out to be entirely false.

“Nobody defines Poppy Bush’s presidency by his son’s struggles or the pardons he issued on his way out of the White House. The moral: Shut the f— up about Hunter Biden, please,” the sub-headline read.

“[The] lucky American businessman[‘s]… father exercised his unlimited constitutional power of clemency to pardon the Lucky American Businessman for all that S&L business way back when. The president’s name was George H.W. Bush. The Lucky American Businessman was his son, Neil,” Pierce went on to say.

Only, Neil Bush, the son of former President George H.W. Bush, was never pardoned by his father or anyone else.

On Wednesday, Esquire updated the article with a correction, admitting the central premise of the column was inaccurate.  The editor’s note says, “This column has been removed due to an error. The original article stated incorrectly that President George H. W. Bush gave a presidential pardon to his son, Neil Bush. Esquire regrets the mistake.”

The entire story has now been corrected to note this is not a thing that happened.

“ Esquire regrets the error.” pic.twitter.com/uA7GehibcS

— Andy Kaczynski (@KFILE) December 4, 2024

The claim had no basis in fact and has been widely discredited. Pierce’s column attempted to draw parallels between the current president’s actions and a supposed historical precedent, but the effort backfired spectacularly. Neil Bush, a businessman and one of George H.W. Bush’s sons, was involved in controversies during the 1980s, including his role in the Silverado Savings and Loan scandal. However, contrary to Pierce’s assertion, Neil Bush was never pardoned by his father—or anyone else.

The retraction comes amid heightened scrutiny of President Biden’s decision to pardon his son, a move that has been polarizing across the political spectrum. Critics have labeled the pardon as an abuse of power.

Esquire published a report that said people should “Shut the fck up about Hunter Biden” because it claimed George H.W. Bush pardoned his son, Neil Bush.

The report has now been deleted and an editor’s note posted on the page that admits the entire story was wrong pic.twitter.com/LsxqJcLEqI

— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) December 4, 2024

Hunter faced federal felony convictions for gun possession and tax evasion. The pardon, issued on December 1, 2024, covers all federal offenses committed by Hunter Biden between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024.

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