He’s pardoning his son.
President Joe Biden has granted a pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, stating that his prosecution was politically motivated. In a statement issued on Sunday, the president claimed that Hunter was “selectively and unfairly prosecuted” due to his relationship with the Democratic president. Biden argued that people in similar situations, such as those late on tax payments due to addiction, are usually given non-criminal resolutions, but Hunter was treated differently because of his connection to him.
The pardon not only covers charges related to gun and tax offenses but also extends to any other potential violations committed by Hunter Biden between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024. Biden also suggested that political opponents in Congress were responsible for instigating the charges against his son and that their actions led to the collapse of a plea deal in Hunter’s case. The president contended that no reasonable person would conclude anything other than that Hunter was targeted solely because of his family connection.
Republicans, including U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, criticized the pardon, claiming that it represented inappropriate interference in the legal process. Grassley, who had previously believed Biden’s assertions that he would not intervene, expressed his disappointment on social media. In June, President Biden had stated that he would respect the legal process and not pardon his son.
While many Democrats supported the pardon, arguing that the prosecution was politically driven, not all shared this view. U.S. Representative Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., disagreed with the decision, maintaining that Hunter’s prosecution was not politically motivated, and emphasizing that Hunter had committed felonies and was convicted by a jury.
Hunter Biden has been a source of controversy for his father for several years, particularly regarding his business dealings and personal conduct. The New York Post published a story ahead of the 2020 presidential election, alleging that Hunter had introduced his father to a Burisma executive, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest. Hunter’s legal issues deepened when he pleaded guilty to tax violations and a firearms charge last year. However, the plea deal fell apart, and in June, a Delaware jury found him guilty of making false statements during a firearm purchase and of possessing a firearm as an illegal drug user.
