President Biden made a shocking announcement late Sunday, revealing that he had granted a pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, in a surprising turn of events in the final weeks of his presidency. This decision came as a major reversal, as Mr. Biden had repeatedly promised not to pardon his son, who had been convicted of three felony charges in June related to the illegal purchase of a revolver while battling addiction to drugs. Additionally, Hunter Biden had pleaded guilty to nine tax evasion charges in a separate case in September.
In a statement released on Sunday night, President Biden explained his decision to pardon his son, stating, “Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter. From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted.” He went on to argue that Hunter had been treated differently than others in similar circumstances, alleging that the charges against him were instigated by political opponents in Congress to attack and oppose the president.
President Biden emphasized that the pardon was a “Full and Unconditional Pardon,” covering any crimes Hunter Biden may have committed from January 1, 2014, through December 1, 2024. However, he did not address the pardon with reporters before departing for his trip to Angola.
Hunter Biden’s legal troubles were overseen by special counsel David Weiss, a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney in Delaware who was retained by the Biden administration in 2021 to continue investigations into Hunter’s conduct. Attorney General Merrick Garland later elevated Weiss to special counsel status following allegations of irregularities in the probe by whistleblowers and congressional Republicans.
The decision to pardon Hunter Biden drew criticism from IRS whistleblowers Joseph Ziegler and Gary Shapley, who accused the Justice Department of shielding Hunter Biden and granting him special privileges. They described the pardon as a “sad day for law-abiding taxpayers” who witnessed preferential treatment for the powerful.
Before President Biden dropped out of the race for the presidency, he had vowed not to pardon his son. In an interview with ABC News in June, he had categorically ruled out the possibility of pardoning Hunter. Despite leaving the race the following month, the White House had maintained that there were no plans to pardon Hunter Biden, even as the political implications of such a decision diminished. As recently as last month, the White House reiterated that the president had no intentions of issuing a pardon.
Hunter Biden, in response to the pardon, expressed remorse for his past mistakes during his struggle with addiction, recognizing that these errors had been exploited for political gain to shame him and his family publicly.
While President Biden’s decision to pardon his son has sparked controversy and debate, it remains a significant development in the ongoing legal saga surrounding Hunter Biden’s actions. The implications of this pardon, both legally and politically, are likely to be a topic of discussion and scrutiny in the days and weeks to come.
