U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he has pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, who faced convictions for making false statements on a gun background check, illegally possessing a firearm, and pleading guilty to federal tax charges.
“Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter,” Biden said in a statement released by the White House. “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 pardon comes after repeated assurances from the White House that Biden would not intervene in his son’s legal matters. Hunter Biden, a recovering drug addict, has been a focal point of Republican criticism, including from President-elect Donald Trump.
Hunter was scheduled for sentencing on gun-related charges on Wednesday and federal tax offenses on December 16. He previously admitted to failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes while indulging in drugs, luxury items, and other excesses.
In a statement on Sunday, Hunter Biden acknowledged his past mistakes during his battle with addiction. “I have admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction,” he said, expressing gratitude for the clemency and pledging to help others struggling with addiction.
President Biden, whose son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015, criticized what he described as politically motivated charges against Hunter. He pointed out that cases like Hunter’s, involving false gun forms or late tax payments, typically result in non-criminal resolutions when the taxes are repaid with penalties and interest.
“It is clear that Hunter was treated differently,” Biden stated. “The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election.”
Biden said he made the decision over the Thanksgiving weekend, during which his family, including Hunter, gathered in Nantucket, Massachusetts. On Friday, a supporter urged him to pardon his son during a public outing.
“I believe in the justice system, but I also believe raw politics has infected this process, leading to a miscarriage of justice,” Biden explained. “As a father and a President, I hope Americans will understand why I came to this decision.”
Source: Reuters
