U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he had granted a full and unconditional pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, reversing his earlier pledge to remain uninvolved in his legal matters. Hunter had faced tax evasion charges and a firearms-related conviction, pleading guilty to failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes and admitting to past mistakes during his struggle with addiction. The president cited political motives behind the charges, stating, “Hunter was singled out only because he is my son,” and condemned what he called “selective and unfair prosecution.”
The pardon covers offenses committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024, and comes ahead of Hunter’s scheduled sentencing on December 16. Hunter, who has been sober for over five years, expressed remorse for his actions during his addiction, acknowledging the public humiliation his family endured. He vowed to dedicate his life to supporting others battling addiction, emphasizing the clemency he received as a second chance to make amends.
Republicans reacted with outrage, with former President Donald Trump accusing Biden of abusing his presidential powers. “Does the pardon include the January 6 prisoners?” Trump questioned on Truth Social, referencing those convicted for the Capitol riots. Representative James Comer echoed the criticism, accusing Biden of shielding his family from scrutiny over alleged corrupt activities.
Biden defended his decision, arguing that Hunter’s charges were politically driven and atypical for such cases. He noted that most individuals in similar situations receive non-criminal resolutions, particularly for late tax payments or inaccuracies on firearm forms. The president said the Justice Department’s approach in Hunter’s case was a direct attempt to undermine him politically, declaring, “In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me.”
The pardon decision followed the Biden family’s Thanksgiving holiday in Nantucket. Biden explained that while he believed in the justice system, he concluded the process surrounding his son’s prosecution had been compromised by partisan politics. “Once I made this decision, there was no sense in delaying it further,” he said, urging Americans to understand his dual role as a father and president in making this difficult call.
