U.S. President Joe Biden issued a full pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, on Sunday, citing what he described as an unjust and politically motivated prosecution. Hunter had been facing sentencing for two criminal cases—a felony charge for lying about drug use when purchasing a gun and a guilty plea in a separate tax evasion case.
“No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son — and that is wrong,” President Biden said in a statement.
The pardon, coming just weeks before Biden leaves office on January 20, has sparked fresh debate over the impartiality of the U.S. judicial system. The move comes amid concerns about political influence, with President-elect Donald Trump already taking steps to appoint loyalists to the FBI and Justice Department.
President Biden had previously vowed not to intervene in his son’s legal troubles. In Sunday’s statement, he defended his decision, asserting that the charges were politically driven. “I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted,” Biden said.
The elder Biden blamed his political opponents for instigating the charges against his son, adding, “I believe in the justice system, but I also believe raw politics has infected this process and led to a miscarriage of justice.”
Hunter Biden faced up to 17 years in prison for the tax evasion charge and an additional 25 years for the gun-related felony. Although he had paid his back taxes and penalties, a plea deal that would have kept him out of jail collapsed at the last minute. Prosecutors also rejected a proposed Alford plea, which would have allowed him to admit guilt without admitting fault.
The pardon echoes past presidential acts of clemency for family members and allies, such as Bill Clinton’s pardon of his half-brother for drug charges and Donald Trump’s pardon of Jared Kushner’s father for tax evasion. Trump, who is set to assume office, criticized the move, questioning on social media whether Biden’s pardon extended to January 6 rioters whom he referred to as “hostages.”
Hunter Biden, who has battled drug addiction, expressed gratitude for the pardon and pledged to help others struggling with similar issues. “I will devote the life I have rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering,” he said in a statement.
President Biden’s decision marks a controversial end to his tenure, underscoring the challenges of separating personal matters from public office.
