Washington (Web Desk): President Joe Biden on Sunday granted a pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, who had been facing sentencing for two criminal cases involving tax evasion and a gun-related offense.
This move represents a dramatic shift from Biden’s earlier statements where he had promised not to intervene in his son’s legal issues.
In his statement, President Biden argued that Hunter had been unfairly targeted solely because he is his son, asserting that “no reasonable person” could draw any other conclusion.
Earlier this year, Hunter Biden was convicted for falsely claiming he was not using drugs when purchasing a firearm, a felony, and also pleaded guilty to charges of tax evasion.
Although he had not yet been sentenced, the case had already attracted significant attention.
Biden insisted that he had refrained from interfering in his son’s legal matters, staying true to his commitment not to influence the Justice Department, despite what he characterized as a politically driven prosecution.
The decision to pardon Hunter Biden is expected to spark further debate, particularly given concerns about the impartiality of the US judicial system.
Critics, including former President Donald Trump, who is also facing legal challenges, are likely to seize on this as a point of contention, deepening the ongoing political discourse about the use of presidential pardons.
Hunter Biden’s legal troubles, which include a history of drug addiction and financial mismanagement, have long been a focal point of Republican criticism, with accusations of preferential treatment.
His legal team has consistently maintained that the charges were motivated by partisan political agendas. Despite paying back the taxes owed along with associated penalties, Hunter Biden’s legal battles have been a persistent issue, particularly during an election year.
This pardon could complicate the final weeks of Joe Biden’s presidency, especially in light of the ongoing political ramifications surrounding his son's cases.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, who faces his own legal challenges, has compared Hunter Biden’s pardon to his own support for those involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, raising questions about fairness and justice in the political sphere.