President Biden Pardons Son Hunter, Citing "Miscarriage of Justice"
In a move likely to fuel further partisan fire, President Joe Biden announced a full pardon for his son Hunter Biden, citing what he called a “miscarriage of justice” fueled by political attacks. The pardon covers all potential federal offenses Hunter Biden may have committed from January 1, 2014 to December 1, 2024.
The President’s decision comes amidst the fallout from a controversial plea deal that unraveled earlier this year. The deal, designed to resolve tax and firearm charges against Hunter Biden, collapsed after prosecutors reportedly backed out of its terms.
“I believe in the justice system,” the President stated, “but I have also seen how raw politics have infected this process, leading to an unfair outcome for my son.” Biden asserted that Hunter had been unfairly targeted because of his familial connection, arguing:
"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,"
Hunter Biden, who has openly acknowledged past struggles with addiction, faced sentencing this month for charges stemming from failing to pay over $1.4 million in taxes and making false statements on a gun purchase form. He had previously pleaded guilty to those charges in September.
"I have admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction — mistakes that have been exploited to publicly humiliate and shame me and my family for political sport," Hunter Biden said in a statement.
The President emphasized that he made the decision to pardon his son over the weekend after careful consideration.
“Once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further,” Biden explained.
“I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision.”
The pardon immediately drew sharp criticism from Republicans. Former President Donald Trump lashed out on his social media platform Truth Social:
"Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!"
House Oversight Committee chair Representative James Comer echoed the criticism, accusing the President of lying about his family’s involvement in alleged corrupt activities.
"Joe Biden has lied from start to finish about his family’s corrupt influence peddling activities," Comer stated.
The President, however, maintained that the charges against Hunter were politically motivated, pointing to the rarity of felony charges for gun form inaccuracies and the leniency often extended to individuals who rectify their tax violations.
He alleged that his son had been unfairly singled out by political opponents intent on damaging his presidency.
"In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me — and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough," Biden stated.
The pardon is likely to become a focal point in ongoing political battles, with Democrats and Republicans clashing over its implications. The decision adds another layer of complexity to an already divided political landscape