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President Joe Biden has issued a controversial pardon for his son, Hunter Biden. The pardon, announced Sunday night, absolves Hunter of federal offenses committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024, including convictions on gun and tax charges earlier this year.
The White House released a statement in which President Biden defended his decision, claiming his son had been subjected to selective and politically motivated prosecution. The president explained Hunter’s struggles with addiction, arguing that similar cases involving late tax payments and firearm forms typically result in non-criminal resolutions. “Enough is enough,” Biden wrote, asserting his son was “treated differently” due to “raw politics.”
Hunter Biden, 54, expressed gratitude for the clemency, vowing to dedicate his life to aiding those battling addiction. He acknowledged his past mistakes during his struggles with substance abuse, which were highlighted during his trials and documented in his 2021 memoir, Beautiful Things.
The decision represents a dramatic reversal for President Biden, who had repeatedly promised not to interfere with the Justice Department’s handling of his son’s legal troubles. In earlier remarks, Biden unequivocally stated he would not pardon Hunter, even after his conviction on three felony firearm offenses in Delaware.
Hunter was found guilty of lying on a federal firearm form by denying his drug addiction while purchasing a gun in 2018. Prosecutors presented damning evidence, including text messages indicating Hunter’s continued drug use around the time of the purchase.
Critics of the president, particularly Republicans, seized on the pardon as further evidence of a justice system favoring political elites. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer condemned the move, accusing the Biden family of evading accountability.
Senator Ron Johnson echoed this sentiment, calling the pardon “the ultimate exclamation point to a justice system that protects Democrats while relentlessly pursuing their opponents.”
The timing of the pardon adds to the political intrigue. Hunter’s sentencing for his gun conviction was scheduled for December 16, while separate tax-related offenses were pending in California.
These charges stemmed from Hunter’s failure to pay over $1.4 million in taxes, to which he pleaded guilty earlier this year. Despite federal sentencing guidelines suggesting significant prison time, Hunter was unlikely to face severe penalties.
President Biden’s decision to pardon his son comes as his approval ratings hit historic lows, and questions about his age and mental fitness have fueled concerns about his political future. Biden announced in July that he would not seek reelection, leaving the White House embroiled in controversies that began with claims of disinformation about Hunter’s laptop and allegations of influence-peddling by the Biden family.
For Republicans, the pardon serves as a focal point in their broader narrative of Biden family corruption. Investigations have linked tens of millions of dollars in foreign payments to Biden family associates, with critics accusing Joe Biden of playing a direct role in his son’s business dealings—a claim the president has repeatedly denied.
While President Biden hopes Americans will view the pardon as an act of compassion by a father and a president, many see it as the closing chapter of a presidency overshadowed by scandals and broken promises.