President Joe Biden has granted a pardon to his son Hunter, who was convicted on gun charges and admitted guilt to federal tax evasion.
On Sunday, the White House released a statement in which the US president expressed that he had extended clemency to Hunter, who was scheduled for sentencing this month in two separate criminal cases.
“From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I have kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively and unfairly prosecuted,” he stated.
“Without aggravating factors like use in a crime, multiple purchases, or buying a weapon as a straw purchaser, people are almost never brought to trial on felony charges solely for how they filled out a gun form.
“Those who were late paying their taxes because of serious addictions, but subsequently paid them back with interest and penalties, are typically given non-criminal resolutions. It is clear that Hunter was treated differently.”
In June, Hunter, aged 54, was found guilty of three charges related to firearms, making him the first child of a sitting US president to face criminal prosecution.
Prosecutors claimed that when he purchased a Colt Cobra revolver in October 2018, he falsely declared on the application that he was not a drug user or addict, despite struggling with crack cocaine addiction.
Two months later, Hunter entered a guilty plea on federal tax evasion charges. He was set to face trial for failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes while reportedly spending excessively on drugs, sex workers, and luxury items.
The “full and unconditional pardon” issued covers both the gun and federal tax evasion charges, with sentencing originally set for the 12th and 16th of December.
In his statement, President Biden also remarked that the charges against Hunter “came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election.”
The 82-year-old mentioned that the plea deal “agreed to by the Department of Justice unraveled in the courtroom—with a number of my political opponents in Congress taking credit for bringing political pressure on the process.”
Acknowledging Hunter’s struggle with addiction, the president said, “No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than that Hunter was singled out only because he is my son—and that is wrong.”
“There has been an effort to break Hunter—who has been five and a half years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution.
“In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me—and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough.”
U-turn from President
President Biden then expressed, “For my entire career, I have followed a simple principle: just tell the American people the truth. They’ll be fair-minded.”
He affirmed his trust in the justice system but criticized the process as being tainted by “raw politics,” leading to a miscarriage of justice. He concluded, “I hope Americans can understand why a father and a president would make this decision.”
However, this decision represents a reversal for President Biden, who had previously stated unequivocally that he would not consider a pardon or commutation for his son.
While Hunter faced trial in the Delaware gun case, President Biden stated to reporters, “I respect the jury’s decision. I will abide by it and will not pardon him.”
And as recently as November 8, the day after Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 election was confirmed, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre maintained that there would be no pardon or clemency for Hunter.
“We have answered this question repeatedly,” she stated. “The response remains the same: no.”
Hunter: Cases Were ‘Political Sport’
In a separate declaration on Sunday, Hunter acknowledged his past errors during his toughest addiction battles but noted that these missteps had been manipulated to publicly embarrass and discredit him and his family for political gain.
He reflected, “In recovery, we are provided the chance to rectify our wrongs where feasible and to reconstruct our lives, never taking for granted the leniency shown to us.”
“I am profoundly grateful for the clemency granted today and pledge to dedicate my renewed life to assisting those who are still battling addiction.”
In reaction to the pardon, Mr. Trump utilized Truth Social to advocate for the release of the individuals jailed for their involvement in the January 6 riots, questioning, “Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages (around 562 people jailed for taking part in the 2021 Capitol riots), who have now been imprisoned for years?
“This represents a tremendous abuse and failure of justice!”
Donald Trump Jr. also commented on X: “Everyone knew he (President Biden) was going to do it. He just chose a time when it would have no consequence to Democratic electability.”
