President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden during his final days in office. Hunter was convicted earlier this year on federal firearms and tax offenses. He was scheduled to appear in Delano, California, where he faced the possibility of lengthy prison sentences.
"No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter's cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son—and that is wrong," President Biden said in a statement.
What Is a Presidential Pardon?
A presidential pardon is an executive power that allows the President to exempt a convicted individual from serving their sentence. The President may choose to pardon the full sentence or a portion of it.
U.S. Presidents Who Have Pardoned Family Members
Several U.S. presidents have exercised their pardon power to benefit family members. Here are a few examples:
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Abraham Lincoln: The 16th President pardoned a cousin of his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, who was a Confederate supporter during the Civil War.
Bill Clinton: In 2001, President Clinton pardoned his half-brother, Roger Clinton, who had been convicted on drug-related charges. This was one of the “midnight pardons” issued just before Clinton left office.
George H.W. Bush: In the final days of his presidency, Bush granted clemency to his son, Neil Bush, who was implicated in the Silverado Savings and Loan scandal. The decision was controversial and viewed by some as an example of presidential privilege shielding a family member.
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Jimmy Carter: The 39th President pardoned his brother, Billy Carter, who was embroiled in financial disputes involving Libya. While President Carter did not publicly shield Billy from scrutiny, the pardon helped minimize political fallout.
Donald Trump: While Trump did not pardon any family members during his presidency, there were widespread rumors that he might issue preemptive pardons for his children, including Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. However, these pardons never materialized.
Joe Biden : The current and 46th President pardoned his son Hunter Biden in his last few weeks in office. Hunter was convicted for federal firearms and tax offences early this year.