President Joe Biden of the United States has issued a full and unconditional pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted of firearm charges and pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion earlier this year.
The presidential pardon, announced on Sunday, comes ahead of Hunter’s sentencing scheduled for later this month. The move marks a significant reversal for President Biden, who had previously stated he would not intervene in his son’s legal troubles.
“Enough is Enough”
In a statement from the White House, President Biden defended his decision, saying Hunter had been selectively and unfairly prosecuted due to political motivations.
“Without aggravating factors like use in a crime or straw purchases, people are almost never brought to trial on felony charges solely for how they filled out a gun form,” the president said. “It is clear that Hunter was treated differently.”
The 82-year-old president accused his political opponents of instigating the charges to attack his administration and undermine his re-election efforts. He added, “In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me—and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here.”
Hunter Biden’s Reaction
Hunter Biden, 54, expressed gratitude for the clemency, acknowledging his past mistakes during his struggle with addiction.
“I will never take the clemency I have been given today for granted,” Hunter said in a separate statement. “I will devote the life I have rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering.”
Political Backlash
The pardon has drawn sharp criticism from Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, who accused Biden of hypocrisy. Trump, writing on his platform Truth Social, demanded similar clemency for those imprisoned over the January 6 Capitol riots.
Donald Trump Jr. also commented on X (formerly Twitter): “Everyone knew he [President Biden] was going to do it. He was just going to do it when it was of no consequence to Democrat electability.”
Context of the Charges
Hunter Biden faced firearm charges for lying about his drug use on a form while purchasing a gun in 2018. He also pleaded guilty to failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes, which he later repaid with interest and penalties.
President Biden’s decision to pardon his son has sparked a national debate about fairness in the justice system, parental loyalty, and political influence in high-profile cases.
