Biden Issues Pardon for Son Hunter Amid Ongoing Legal Troubles
WASHINGTON — In a surprising move on Sunday night, President Joe Biden granted a full pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, despite previously stating he would refrain from using his executive power to intervene in his son’s legal matters. “I believe in the justice system, but I have come to realize that raw politics has tainted this situation, leading to a miscarriage of justice. Once I arrived at this decision over the weekend, it seemed prudent not to delay further. I hope the American people can understand why a father and a President would make this choice,” Biden expressed in his official announcement.
Hunter Biden faced sentencing dates set for December 12 regarding federal gun charges and December 16 for separate federal tax evasion charges for which he pleaded guilty in September. The President’s pardon covers all offenses Hunter may have committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024, according to a statement from the White House.
A senior White House official informed NBC News, the first outlet to report on the pardon, that the President reached the decision over the weekend and began notifying key advisors on Sunday.
In his statement, Biden addressed his son’s battles with addiction, criticizing political opponents for targeting Hunter in an effort to undermine him as well as himself. “Any reasonable observer can only conclude that Hunter was singled out due to his relationship with me, and that is unjust,” the President remarked. He further articulated that Hunter has remained sober for over five years despite ongoing harassment and perceived selective prosecution, adding, “In attempting to break Hunter, they have sought to break me — and this must end.”
Hunter Biden also released a statement, acknowledging his past mistakes during his struggles with addiction and lamenting how these have been weaponized for political gain. “I have owned up to my errors during the darkest periods of my addiction — mistakes that have been used to publicly shame and humiliate me and my family,” he stated. He affirmed his commitment to sobriety, attributing his recovery to his deep faith along with the steadfast support of loved ones. “In recovery, we can make amends and rebuild our lives, and I promise not to take today’s mercy for granted. I will dedicate the life I’ve rebuilt to aiding those still grappling with addiction,” he added.
No immediate comment was available from a representative for Special Counsel David Weiss, nor from Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell.
In response to the pardon, Steven Cheung, a spokesman for President-elect Donald Trump, criticized the Biden administration, claiming, “The failed witch hunts against President Trump have shown that the Democrat-led DOJ and radical prosecutors are misusing the justice system. We need to fix our justice system and restore due process for all Americans, which is exactly what President Trump will do upon his return to the White House.”
At 82, Biden is exercising his pardon authority to ensure his son avoids jail time as his own presidential term nears its end, coinciding with a period when he will not be facing any future electoral challenges. Despite past assertions against pardoning his son, including a definitive statement in June following a jury’s guilty verdict on three federal gun charges, the President ultimately reversed his stance.
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