Joe Biden Grants Pardon to Hunter Biden Before the End of His Term

A controversial presidential move in response to charges of tax fraud and illegal firearm possession

U.S. President Joe Biden made a significant decision on Sunday, December 1, by granting a pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, just weeks before the end of his term. Hunter, a former lawyer and businessman aged 54, had pleaded guilty to tax fraud in September during a hearing in Los Angeles, which allowed him to avoid a trial. Earlier in the year, he was also found guilty of lying about his drug addiction when purchasing a firearm, an act that is illegal in Delaware, the home state of the Bidens.

Now working as a painter, Hunter Biden was awaiting his sentence for these two cases, facing up to 17 years in prison for tax fraud and up to 25 years for illegal firearm possession. His lawyers claimed that these charges were driven solely by his status as the president’s son.

Joe Biden Criticizes a “Judicial Error” Influenced by Politics

In a statement, Joe Biden justified his decision by condemning what he sees as an injustice: “No reasonable person can reach any conclusion other than that Hunter was targeted solely because he is my son, and that is unacceptable,” he said. The president added that while he believes in the integrity of the judicial system, he also feels that politics had influenced the process, leading to what he describes as a “judicial error.”

Although the president had previously stated on multiple occasions that he would not grant a pardon to his son, the White House reiterated this stance in September. This move could now reignite debate over the independence of the U.S. judicial system, especially at a time when the incoming president, Donald Trump, has announced the appointment of loyal supporters to key positions, including the heads of the FBI and the Department of Justice.

Joe Biden concluded his statement by affirming that he had respected the separation between his role and the Department of Justice, even when the prosecution against his son appeared politically motivated. “The charges against Hunter emerged only after my political opponents in Congress initiated them to attack me and oppose my election,” he added.