U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, following his conviction on federal gun and tax charges. This decision marks a shift from the president’s earlier stance, when he had stated that he would not intervene in his son’s legal matters. The announcement of the pardon came on Sunday evening.
The pardon covers any potential federal crimes Hunter Biden may have committed between January 2014 and December 2024. This period includes his time serving as a board member for Burisma, a Ukrainian company accused of bribery.
Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, had pled guilty to tax evasion charges in a California court on September 5, 2024. He was scheduled to be sentenced for both cases in the coming weeks: December 12 for the gun charges in Delaware and December 16 for the tax charges in California.
In a statement, President Biden said, “Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter,” calling it a “miscarriage of justice.” He continued, “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.”
The president also mentioned political opponents in Congress, whom he accused of instigating the charges and ensuring that a plea deal, agreed upon in July, fell apart in August. The statement concluded with: “Here’s the truth: I believe in the justice system, but I also believe raw politics has infected this process and led to a miscarriage of justice. Once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further. I hope Americans will understand why a father and a president would come to this decision.”
In the summer, a jury found Hunter Biden guilty of three felony counts related to his purchase and possession of a firearm while addicted to drugs. Additionally, in September, he agreed to plead guilty to nine tax-related charges, including three felonies, just before what was expected to be a long and arduous trial. For the tax charges, Hunter Biden faced up to 17 years in federal prison and $1.35 million in fines. His gun-related conviction carried a potential sentence of up to 25 years.
Hunter Biden released a statement on Sunday, acknowledging his mistakes during his darkest days of addiction. “I have admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes, mistakes that have been exploited to publicly humiliate and shame me and my family for political sport,” he said. “Despite all of this, I have maintained my sobriety for more than five years because of my deep faith and the unwavering love and support of my family and friends. In recovery, we are given the opportunity to make amends and rebuild our lives, never taking for granted the mercy we have been afforded.”
He concluded: “I will never take the clemency I have been given today for granted and will devote the life I have rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering.”
Within an hour of the president’s pardon, Hunter Biden’s legal team filed notices with the courts in both criminal cases. The attorneys stated, “The President’s pardon moots Mr. Biden’s pending sentencing and requires an automatic dismissal of the indictment with prejudice.”