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President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden Sunday night, reversing earlier statements that he would not use his executive authority to grant clemency. The decision, which sparked immediate political and public scrutiny, came as Hunter Biden faced sentencing for federal gun charges and tax evasion.
BREAKING: Joe Biden has officially pardoned his son, Hunter pic.twitter.com/RGwPgmJk68
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) December 2, 2024
A Presidential Reversal
Biden had stated time and time again that he would not pardon his son. When Hunter Biden was found guilty of gun-related offenses in June, he made it clear that he would not pardon him. As late as last month, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated this stance. But according to insiders, Biden has discussed the issue in private ever after Hunter was found guilty.
For years Joe Biden’s administration assured you Joe would never pardon Hunter. It’s really extraordinary how blatantly they lie. pic.twitter.com/RO3AdRbmVX
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) December 2, 2024
Biden a few months ago: I will not pardon HunterBiden today: I pardoned HunterAll Democrats do is lie. pic.twitter.com/Ii2B9kAlqy
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 2, 2024
Citing concerns about justice, Biden made the announcement of the pardon in a statement on Sunday night. He maintained that the court system had been corrupted by political motives, resulting in what he called a miscarriage of justice.
“I believe in the justice system,” Biden stated, “but raw politics infected this process. It led to a miscarriage of justice.”
Sentencing Loomed for Hunter Biden
The sentencing dates for Hunter Biden were set on December 12 for the firearms charges and December 16 for the tax evasion counts. By nullifying both procedures, the pardon spares him from possible jail time, NBC stated. In September, Hunter Biden entered a guilty plea to two tax evasion misdemeanor counts. Earlier this year, he was also found guilty on three federal firearms counts. Any consequence that may have come from these situations is avoided by Biden’s action.
Protecting His Son Amid Political Battles
In order to protect his son from what he claimed was a politically driven prosecution, Biden presented the pardon as an essential step. The president also brought attention to Hunter Biden’s battles with addiction, accusing his rivals of taking use of them for their own political ends.
“There has been an effort to break Hunter,” Biden said, as reported by PBS. “In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me.” According to his father's statement, Hunter Biden has been clean for more than five years. Biden stressed how unheard-of and relentless the assaults on his kid were.
Internal Deliberations
According to CNN’s report, when Hunter was found guilty in June, talks regarding a possible pardon had already begun. According to two people with knowledge of the discussions, Biden openly rejected the idea in order to avoid criticism. Biden made up his mind over the weekend and told top advisers on Sunday. The president considered the pardon an essential move, according to a White House official who verified the timetable.
A Legacy-Defining Move
Biden, who is 82, is nearing the conclusion of his presidency and has no intentions to run for office again. The pardon indicates a readiness to make contentious choices without worrying about the impact on the election, NBC reported.