US President Joe Biden has granted his son, Hunter Biden, a complete and unreserved pardon in a novel and divisive move. The action occurs despite the president’s opposition to forgiveness for his son, who was found guilty on several counts earlier this year.
Hunter Biden was found guilty in June of using illegal narcotics in possession of a firearm and had admitted pleas to tax charges in September. Hunter became the first kid of a serving president to encounter criminal convictions, signifying a historic first.
Regarding the legal problems involving his son, what did President Biden say?
President Biden said formally that his son had been “singled out” and referred to the court cases against him as “a miscarriage of justice.” “From the day I took office, I swore I would not meddle with the Justice Department’s decision-making,” he added. “I kept my word even as I watched my son being unjustly, unfairly, prosecuted. Politics has contaminated this process and resulted in a miscarriage of justice.
Biden said he knew his choice would be tough for Americans to grasp: “I hope Americans will understand why a father and a president would come to this decision. Once I decided this weekend, postponing it would not make sense.
The pardon is especially noteworthy, given comments from the White House earlier this year. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declared unequivocally that the president would not pardon Hunter in September.
How Did Hunter Biden React to the Pardon?
Hunter Biden said thanks for the pardon and thought back on his battles with addiction: “Mistakes I made during the darkest days of my addiction have been exploited to humiliate and shame my family for political sport publicly.” I will never take the compassion I have been given today for granted; instead, I will dedicate my life to serving those still sick and suffering.
According to his father, Hunter, now 54, has been sober for five-and-a-half years.
Has a past US President pardoned a family member?
Although the choice has generated intense discussion, pardoning a family member is not unusual for a US president. In 2001, President Bill Clinton cleared Roger Clinton, his half-brother, for a 1985 cocaine-related misdemeanor. Likewise, in 2020, Donald Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, his daughter Ivanka’s father-in-law.
President-elect Trump initially named Charles Kushner as the future ambassador to France. However, Kushner had served time for tax evasion and witness tampering.
How Did President-elect Donald Trump Respond to the Pardon?
Set to replace Biden on January 20, 2025, President-elect Donald Trump sharply attacked the pardon. Referring to the Capitol disturbances on January 6, he said: “Does Joe’s pardon for Hunter include the [January 6] hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such maltreatment and distortion of justice!
Trump’s sharp remarks call attention to the pardon’s politically polarizing nature, which follows Biden’s earlier this year withdrawal from the presidential contest.
Which legal cases against Hunter Biden had dates for sentencing?
Before the pardon, Hunter Biden was under extreme legal pressure. In September, he pleaded guilty to nine federal tax fraud charges; his possible prison sentence is up to seventeen years. His conviction on three felonies connected to a June gun transaction also exposed him to up to 25 years behind bars. For both cases, December had been set aside for sentence.
How Does Biden's Presidency and Legacy Change with This Pardon?
Hunter’s legal problems overshadowed Joe Biden’s political ambitions and presidency. Following his July pullout from the 2024 campaign, Biden supported Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. Finally, Harris lost the contest to Donald Trump, who is expected to return to the Oval Office.
Biden’s choice to pardon his son will likely be a flashpoint in public and political debate as the country prepares to inaugurate President-elect Trump. Appealing to the American people, the president finished his remarks by saying, “I believe in the justice system, but I also believe in fairness.” Love, obligation, and a relentless dedication to what is right drove this choice.
