U.S. President Joe Biden issued a pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, on Sunday night, marking a significant reversal from his earlier commitment not to intervene in his son’s legal troubles. In a statement, Biden cited political interference and personal convictions as reasons for his decision.
“I believe in the justice system, but raw politics has infected this process, leading to a miscarriage of justice,” Biden said. “As a father and a president, I felt compelled to act.”
The pardon covers Hunter Biden’s conviction on federal gun charges and his guilty plea to federal tax evasion. The decision comes ahead of sentencing hearings for both cases, originally set for December.
In his statement, Biden defended his son, emphasizing Hunter’s recovery from addiction and criticizing what he described as selective prosecution.
“No reasonable person can conclude otherwise than that Hunter was singled out because he is my son,” the president said. “This effort to break Hunter has been an attempt to break me. Enough is enough.”
The move has reignited fierce political debate, with Republicans accusing Biden of undermining justice to protect his family. GOP criticism of Hunter Biden’s legal issues, including his foreign business dealings, has been a persistent attack line.
According to sources, Biden had privately considered the pardon since Hunter’s conviction in June but publicly denied any intention to intervene. First Lady Jill Biden also stated in June that her husband respected the judicial process and would not grant clemency.
The timing of the pardon — after Biden announced he would not seek re-election and with no upcoming campaign pressures — has further fueled speculation about political motivations.
Hunter Biden, the first child of a sitting president to face criminal charges, was convicted of gun-related offenses and pleaded guilty to tax charges carrying potential sentences of up to 42 years. However, such maximum penalties are rarely imposed.
Legal experts like Neil Eggleston, former White House counsel under Barack Obama, argued that Biden’s clemency power was well within his authority. “The clemency power has few limitations and certainly would extend to a Hunter Biden pardon,” Eggleston said.
The pardon averts Hunter Biden’s potential imprisonment but ensures ongoing political fallout for Biden’s presidency. The move also preempts a new Republican administration from influencing the case under President-elect Donald Trump.
