WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a dramatic reversal, President Joe Biden has granted a full pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, despite previously stating he would not intervene in his son’s legal troubles. The move, announced late Sunday, has sparked a heated national debate and intensified scrutiny on the Biden administration as the president nears the end of his term.
Hunter Biden, 53, had been facing sentencing in two federal cases. He was convicted of federal gun charges and pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion earlier this year, with sentencing dates scheduled for December. The president’s pardon covers any offenses Hunter Biden may have committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024.
President Biden defended his decision in an official statement, citing concerns over political interference in the judicial process. “I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and led to a miscarriage of justice,” Biden said. “Once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further. I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision.”
In his own statement, Hunter Biden expressed gratitude for the clemency and acknowledged past mistakes stemming from his struggles with addiction. “In the throes of addiction, I squandered many opportunities and advantages,” he said. “I will never take the clemency I have been given today for granted and will devote the life I have rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering.”
The pardon has drawn sharp criticism from political opponents, with allegations that the president is abusing his authority to shield his son. Steven Cheung, a spokesman for former President Donald Trump, called the move evidence of a politicized justice system. “The Democrat-controlled DOJ and other radical prosecutors are guilty of weaponizing the justice system,” Cheung said. “President Trump will restore due process for all Americans when he returns to the White House.”
The decision also raises questions about the timing and political implications of the pardon. Biden, who has repeatedly stated he would not seek re-election, appears to have weighed the potential fallout against what he described as a personal and moral obligation.
Critics argue that the pardon undermines public trust and highlights what they see as a pattern of dishonesty. Biden had stated unequivocally in June, “I will not pardon him,” following Hunter Biden’s conviction. However, reports indicate that internal discussions about a potential pardon had been ongoing since the conviction, suggesting the president’s public statements may have been a strategic deflection.
The controversy underscores the tension between personal loyalty and public accountability. As Hunter Biden’s legal and personal struggles continue to dominate headlines, the pardon is likely to remain a divisive issue in the final months of Biden’s presidency, with implications for the broader political landscape.
The White House has not commented further, and Special Counsel David Weiss, who has been investigating Hunter Biden, has yet to issue a statement. Legal experts suggest that the president’s unprecedented move could prompt legislative review of presidential pardon powers in the future.
This decision, while offering clemency to his son, has opened a new chapter in the ongoing debate over justice, transparency, and the boundaries of presidential authority.
