What happens when promises are made… but never meant to be kept? From the White House to the boardroom, broken commitments leave behind chaos—whether it’s Biden’s unprecedented pardon of his son or a business deal where someone never intended to follow through. In this episode, we break down how...
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Broken Promises & Business Pitfalls: Lessons from the Law
In the world of law, whether at the highest levels of government or in everyday business deals, one truth remains: broken promises have consequences.
In a recent episode of Life, Legal, and the Headlines, host Chris Farrell and legal expert Gavin Tudor Elliott explored two striking examples of commitments that were never meant to be honored—one from the White House and another from the business world.
At the center of the discussion: President Joe Biden’s controversial pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, and what entrepreneurs can learn from cases where people enter agreements with no intention of following through.
A Pardon Unlike Any Other
Presidential pardons aren’t unusual. They typically come at the end of a president’s term and are issued to correct past injustices.
But Biden’s pardon of his son was different.
As Elliott highlighted, the exact language of the Executive Grant of Clemency not only covered crimes Hunter Biden was convicted of, but also any crimes he may have committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024.
Why is that significant?
Because 2014 is the same year Hunter Biden joined the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company that has long been the subject of scrutiny. The pardon’s deliberate time frame raises serious questions about whether it was designed to shield him from potential future investigations.
"It's unusual... You don't think of a pardon applying to anything [someone] might've done." — Gavin Elliott
Beyond the timing, the broader legal implications of the pardon make it even more striking.
Most people assume pardons correct past legal missteps. But in this case, Biden’s pardon prevents investigations from moving forward at all, effectively shielding Hunter Biden from any future legal consequences related to that time period.
And that’s what makes this so different.
Even comedian and political commentator Jon Stewart—a vocal supporter of Democratic policies—reacted with frustration. As Elliott pointed out, Stewart criticized the pardon for undermining the Democratic Party’s claim to be the party of the rule of law.
"The moral high ground that the Democratic Party believed they could stand on... sort of blew out the window." — Gavin Elliott
It’s not just about whether the pardon is legal—it’s about what it reveals.
Before this, Biden publicly stated he would not pardon his son. And yet, when the time came, he did exactly that. A clear, undeniable broken promise.
But while the public can do little to undo a presidential decision, entrepreneurs can take action when broken promises occur in business.
That’s where legal protection becomes critical.
Broken Promises in Business: Protecting Yourself from Fraudulent Deals
The episode pivoted from the Biden pardon to a real-world business issue: agreements where one party never intends to hold up their end of the deal.
One example?
Imagine you’ve built a successful brand. Someone approaches you with a tempting offer—they want to white-label your product, sell it under your name, and handle all the work while you collect a commission.
It sounds like a great deal. But what if they never intended to follow through?
Elliott stressed that when it comes to business deals, intent matters. There’s a legal difference between:
Breach of Contract — When someone intended to fulfill an agreement but failed.
Fraud in the Inducement — When someone never intended to follow through in the first place.
Fraudulent intent at the outset changes the legal landscape, potentially allowing the wronged party to rescind the contract entirely.
And while you can’t always control who you do business with, you can take steps to protect yourself.
How to Protect Yourself in Business Deals
Elliott outlined key strategies to avoid falling victim to fraudulent business agreements:
- Do Your Homework
Before entering into any agreement:
Research the person or company making the offer.
Look into their history—business licenses, lawsuits, complaints.
Check social media—what kind of reputation do they have?
A simple Google search or a background check could save you from a costly mistake.
- Get Everything in Writing (Be Specific!)
Vague contracts leave room for misinterpretation and manipulation. To avoid this:
Clearly define roles, timelines, and expectations.
Itemize deliverables—don’t just say “we will return all assets,” list them specifically.
Include milestones that must be met before full payment or contract execution.
The more detailed the agreement, the harder it is for someone to manipulate it later.
- Use Third-Party Protection Measures
For transactions involving money or assets:
Use escrow accounts to ensure funds are only released when conditions are met.
Require joint access to financial records to prevent hidden dealings.
By removing direct control from either party, you create an additional layer of security.
Case Study: When Deals Go Bad
One of Elliott’s legal cases illustrated exactly how deals can fall apart.
In a real estate transaction, a buyer agreed to release a seller from obligations in exchange for returning a deposit. But after signing, the seller refused to honor the full release, claiming the buyer still owed additional money.
This was a classic case of fraudulent intent—the seller never planned to comply with the terms.
The lesson? If a party makes it clear early on that they don’t intend to follow through, take action immediately.
"Timing is very important. Do not sit on your hands in these matters." — Gavin Elliott
In this case, a properly detailed contract could have prevented the dispute altogether.
From Politics to Business: A Universal Truth
At the core of both these cases—the Biden pardon and fraudulent business deals—is a simple, undeniable reality:
A promise is only as strong as the person making it.
In politics, broken promises may frustrate voters, but they rarely come with consequences.
In business, a broken promise can cost you everything—unless you have the right legal protections in place.
The difference? You can’t stop a president from pardoning his son—but you can stop yourself from signing a bad deal.
Key Takeaways:
✅ Research before signing.
✅ Be detailed and specific in contracts.
✅ Use third-party protections where possible.
✅ Act fast if a deal starts going sideways.
Because in both politics and business, one truth remains: Promises are cheap. Protection is priceless.
What Do You Think?
Have you ever been in a business deal where the other party never intended to follow through? Drop a comment below and let’s discuss!
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