In a move that has sparked controversy, U.S. President Joe Biden has granted a full pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, who was facing sentencing this month for federal tax and gun convictions.
The pardon, announced by the White House on Sunday, December 1, cannot be rescinded by President-elect Donald Trump.
According to President Biden, his son was “singled out” and “selectively, and unfairly” prosecuted due to his family name. Hunter Biden was scheduled to be sentenced on December 12 for his conviction on federal gun charges and on December 16 for pleading guilty to federal tax evasion charges in September.
In a statement, President Biden expressed his belief in the justice system but also acknowledged that “raw politics has infected this process” leading to a “miscarriage of justice”. He hopes that Americans will understand why, as a father and President, he made this decision.
The pardon grants Hunter Biden a “full and unconditional pardon” for any offenses he may have committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024. President Biden also highlighted his son’s struggles with addiction and the efforts of his political opponents to “break” him.
The move has raised questions about the use of presidential pardons and the potential implications for the Biden family and the upcoming presidential transition.
