In a surprising move, President Joe Biden has pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, reversing his previously firm stance against using presidential clemency in his son’s legal battles. The pardon, announced late Sunday night, comes ahead of Hunter Biden’s scheduled sentencing hearings for federal gun charges on Dec. 12 and federal tax evasion charges on Dec. 16.
The president acknowledged the highly charged political nature of his decision, stating in a formal release:
“I believe in the justice system, but I also believe that raw politics has infected this process, leading to a miscarriage of justice. After wrestling with this decision over the weekend, I felt there was no sense in delaying it further. I hope the American people will understand why a father and a president would come to this conclusion.”
The pardon covers both the convictions and guilty pleas, ensuring Hunter Biden will not face prison time. The decision has drawn both intense criticism and support, further polarizing public opinion on the matter.
President Biden accused political adversaries of exploiting his son’s legal troubles to attack him personally, stating:
“No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can conclude anything other than that he was singled out because he is my son. That is wrong. In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me.”
Hunter Biden, who has been sober for over five years, has faced relentless scrutiny over his personal struggles and business dealings, often becoming a lightning rod for GOP criticism.
NBC News, the first to report the pardon, revealed that President Biden’s deliberations on the issue began after Hunter’s conviction in June. Despite publicly declaring he would not pardon his son, sources close to the White House indicated that the option was never entirely ruled out.
Biden’s pardon ensures Hunter will not serve time in prison, a move some political analysts believe reflects his desire to shield his family as he nears the end of his presidency. At 82, Biden has announced he will not seek re-election, removing potential electoral repercussions for his decision.
Republicans have long accused Hunter Biden of receiving preferential treatment from the Justice Department due to his father’s political influence. Following the collapse of an initial plea deal in July 2023, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed U.S. Attorney David Weiss as special counsel to oversee the case, further intensifying GOP scrutiny.
Hunter’s legal challenges also posed a political minefield for Biden’s administration and the Democratic Party. In the lead-up to last month’s election, Biden dropped out of the presidential race, handing the Democratic nomination to Vice President Kamala Harris. Many speculate the pardon decision could impact Harris’s political future as well.
Hunter Biden’s trial earlier this year marked the first time in U.S. history that a sitting president’s child faced criminal conviction. Legal experts have weighed in on the unprecedented nature of the pardon. Neil Eggleston, former White House counsel under President Obama, supported Biden’s decision, stating, “The clemency power has few limitations and certainly would extend to a Hunter Biden pardon.”
Others argue the pardon could reignite political tensions, particularly as the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office.
With this controversial pardon, President Biden has sparked renewed debate over the limits and implications of presidential clemency. While it resolves Hunter Biden’s immediate legal troubles, it leaves questions about the long-term political and social ramifications of his father’s decision.
