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Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, who was found guilty of tax fraud and federal weapons crimes and is scheduled to be sentenced in December, has been pardoned.
The news broke Sunday night that the president had granted his son a pardon, even though the White House had promised last month that he had no plans to do so.
“Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter,” he said in a statement, referring to what he described as a “miscarriage of justice.”
“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 said in his letter.
President Biden also referred to “political opponents in Congress,” whom he said were responsible for the accusations and for making sure that a July-drafted plea agreement collapsed in August.
“Here’s the truth: I believe in the justice system, but after wrestling with this, I also think that raw politics has tainted this process and caused a miscarriage of justice.
Once I made this decision this weekend, there was no point in postponing it further,” the statement said. I’m hoping that Americans will get the reasoning behind a parent and a president’s choice.
The younger Biden was convicted on three felony charges by a jury over the summer for purchasing and possessing a handgun while under the influence of narcotics.
On the eve of what was anticipated to be a drawn-out and taxing trial, Hunter Biden also consented to enter a guilty plea to nine tax-related counts in September, including three felonies.
Hunter Biden could have spent up to 17 years in federal jail and paid $1.35 million in penalties for the tax charges. He faced a maximum sentence of 25 years in jail for his gun-related conviction.
In the next weeks, Hunter Biden was set to be sentenced in both cases: on December 12 for the gun-related charges in Delaware and on December 16 for the tax accusations in California.
On Nov. 7, just after Donald Trump won the election, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked whether the president planned to pardon Hunter Biden.
She said, “We’ve been asked that question several times. Our response, “no,” remains unchanged. She refused to comment on any other pardons the president could grant before.
The conclusion of his term, including those for government officials or those who were threatened with legal action by President-elect Donald Trump.
When asked whether President Biden was still adamant about not granting his son Hunter clemency on November 26, White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates said, “I don’t have anything to add to what he’s said already.”
In a June interview with ABC News’ David Muir, President Biden also said that he had no plans to pardon his son.
At the time, he said that he would accept the trial’s verdict. “I’m really proud of my son Hunter,” President Biden said during a June White House briefing.
He is no longer addicted. He’s one of the most intelligent and kind individuals I’ve ever met. “I promised to follow the jury’s verdict, and I will,” he said. And I won’t forgive him.”
When asked again whether President Biden will pardon his son on July 25, a month later, Jean-Pierre said, “It’s still a no.”
The answer will be no. Furthermore, I have nothing else to say. Will his kid be forgiven? No. In July 2023, Jean-Pierre had previously said “No” when asked whether he thought there was a chance the president would pardon his son.
Last week, Hunter Biden was seen on vacation in Nantucket with his family. “I have acknowledged and accepted responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction – mistakes.
That have been used to publicly humiliate and shame me and my family for political sport,” he said in a statement issued on Sunday.
My strong faith and the steadfast love and support of my family and friends have helped me stay sober for almost five years in spite of everything.
I lost out on a lot of possibilities and benefits when I was struggling with addiction. If we never take the kindness.
We have received for granted, we will have the chance to reconstruct our lives and, if feasible, make reparations while we are in recovery.”
“I will dedicate the life I have rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering, and I will never take the clemency I have been given today for granted,” the statement went on.
Hunter Biden’s legal team sent clerical notifications to the courts in both felony cases within an hour of President Biden’s pardon.
“The President’s pardon necessitates an automatic dismissal of the Indictment with prejudice and moots Mr. Biden’s pending and yet to occur sentencing and entry of judgment in this case,” the attorneys argued.