TL/DR –
President Joe Biden issued a pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, a departure from his earlier stance that he would not use executive authority for this purpose. Hunter Biden faced sentencing for federal gun charges and separate federal tax evasion charges. President Biden explained his decision by suggesting politics had corrupted the process and resulted in unjust treatment of his son.
President Biden pardons son Hunter Biden in significant reversal
President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, on Sunday. This move contradicts Biden’s previous assertion that he would not wield his executive authority to pardon or commute his son’s sentence.
\”I believe in the justice system, but..raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice,\” Biden remarked upon announcing his decision. The President hopes the public will understand why he took this step as both, a father and a President.
Hunter was due to be sentenced on Dec. 12 on federal gun charges, and on Dec. 16 on separate charges of federal tax evasion, which he pleaded guilty to in September.
The ‘full and unconditional pardon’ covers any offences committed by Hunter from January 1, 2014, to December 1, 2024, according to a White House statement. Biden issued the pardon after much consideration, NBC News reported.
In his statement, Biden also addressed his son’s struggles with addiction and expressed his belief that his political opponents attempted to harm him by targeting Hunter.
Hunter, in a separate statement, admitted his past mistakes and appreciated the clemency. He assured he would dedicate the rest of his life to help those who are still struggling with addiction.
Despite Biden’s pardon safeguarding Hunter from future imprisonment, his earlier statement that he would not pardon his son stands in contrast. This pardon seems to be one of Biden’s final acts as he nears the end of his term in the White House and doesn’t have a future election to face.
First lady Jill Biden, in an interview, reaffirmed her faith in the judicial system.
The trial of Hunter, the first involving a president’s child, brought about significant political backlash for Biden. The GOP has continuously accused Hunter and Biden of corruption and favoritism due to their influential roles.
Republicans’ criticism grew when Hunter pleaded guilty to tax and gun charges in 2023. This action prompted Attorney General Merrick Garland to appoint David Weiss as a special counsel in the case.
The charges against Hunter Biden carry a potential maximum prison sentence of 42 years. However, the Justice Department remarked that typically, the sentences are less than the maximum.
Joseph Ziegler, an IRS case agent involved in the tax probe of Hunter Biden, affirmed that politics played no role in his decision to open the case. Meanwhile, Neil Eggleston, former White House counsel to President Obama, expressed his support for Biden’s decision to pardon his son.
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