By President Joe Biden has granted a full and unconditional pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, who faced sentencing for two serious criminal charges.
In a statement, President Biden expressed that his son had been “singled out” and called the legal proceedings a “miscarriage of justice.” This decision comes after months of uncertainty and previous statements where Biden had ruled out granting clemency.
Hunter Biden had pleaded guilty to federal tax charges in September and was convicted of possessing a firearm while being an illegal drug user in June, becoming the first child of a sitting president to be convicted of a crime. These convictions had carried significant prison sentences, with up to 17 years for the tax charges and 25 years for the firearm-related felonies.
Reversal on Pardon Decision
Just months ago, Biden had repeatedly stated that he would not pardon his son. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed that Biden would not offer clemency, and Biden himself had told reporters during the G7 summit in June that he would respect the judicial process without intervening. However, in his latest statement, Biden explained that while he had respected the Justice Department’s decision-making, “politics has infected this process,” leading to what he viewed as “unfair prosecution.”
Biden added that after careful consideration, he felt there was no reason to delay his decision. “I hope Americans will understand why a father and a president would come to this decision,” he said.
Reactions to the Pardon
The pardon immediately sparked controversy. Republicans, particularly House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, accused the president of “lying” about his son’s case. Representative Greg Stanton of Arizona also expressed disagreement, becoming the first Democrat to publicly oppose the decision, saying, “I think he got this one wrong.”
Hunter Biden himself responded, stating that the mistakes he made during his struggles with addiction had been used to “humiliate” his family. He acknowledged his past mistakes and vowed to use his second chance to help others who are still battling addiction. “I will never take the clemency I have been given today for granted,” said Hunter Biden, who has been sober for over five years.
A Family Tradition of Pardons
This is not the first time a U.S. president has pardoned a family member. Bill Clinton granted clemency to his half-brother, Roger Clinton, for a 1985 cocaine-related offense in 2001. In 2020, Donald Trump pardoned his son-in-law’s father, Charles Kushner, who had been convicted for illegal actions related to his business dealings.
Hunter Biden’s Legal Troubles
Hunter Biden’s legal issues have cast a shadow over his father’s presidency, particularly as Biden’s 2024 re-election campaign came to a close earlier this year. The charges against Hunter had been a significant distraction, and his father’s endorsement of Vice-President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate led to her loss in the 2024 election to Donald Trump.
With Trump’s inauguration scheduled for January 2025, Biden’s decision to pardon his son is a pivotal moment in the current political climate, signaling both a personal and political move as the Biden administration prepares for a transition of power.
