U.S. President Joe Biden has granted a pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, who faced sentencing for federal tax evasion and gun offenses. The pardon comes just weeks before Biden leaves office.
In a statement released on December 1, Biden argued that his son had been “singled out” and “unfairly” prosecuted due to his family name. This clemency cannot be undone by President-elect Donald Trump.
Hunter Biden had been scheduled for sentencing on December 12 for federal gun charges and on December 16 for tax evasion charges, to which he pleaded guilty in September.
Biden stated, “While I believe in the justice system, I also believe politics has influenced this process, leading to a miscarriage of justice. Once I made this decision, there was no reason to delay it. I hope Americans understand why a father and President would act this way.”
The President issued a “full and unconditional pardon” for any crimes Hunter Biden may have committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024.
Biden also discussed his son’s battle with addiction, accusing political opponents of targeting Hunter to “break” him. “Hunter was singled out because he is my son, and that is wrong,” Biden said. “They’ve tried to break him and me, and it needs to stop.”
Hunter Biden, in a separate statement, acknowledged his past mistakes during his addiction, which he said had been used to publicly shame his family. “I have maintained my sobriety for over five years, and I will never take the clemency I’ve been given today for granted. I will dedicate my life to helping others still struggling,” he said.
In response, Trump spokesman Steven Cheung criticized the justice system, calling it “weaponized” by radical prosecutors. “President Trump will restore due process for all Americans when he returns to the White House,” Cheung said.
