On Sunday, U.S. President Joe Biden issued a formal pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, who was awaiting sentencing in two criminal cases involving tax evasion and a firearms purchase.
In a statement accompanying the decision, President Biden defended the move, calling the prosecutions politically motivated. “No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son — and that is wrong,” he stated, describing the situation as “a miscarriage of justice.”
Hunter Biden was convicted earlier this year of lying about his drug use on a federal form while purchasing a firearm—a felony offense—and had pleaded guilty in a separate case of tax evasion.
A Reversal of Stance
The pardon marks a significant shift from Biden’s earlier position of non-intervention. The president had consistently stated he would not involve himself in his son’s legal issues. As recently as September, the White House press secretary reiterated that Biden had no intention of issuing a pardon.
Context and Political Backdrop
President Biden’s decision comes amid heightened political tensions, with criminal cases against former President-elect Donald Trump effectively stalled. A recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity has halted legal proceedings against Trump, despite his conviction in May for falsifying business records—a landmark case that will likely never result in jail time.
Biden addressed this political backdrop in his statement, emphasizing his belief in the justice system but decrying the influence of partisan politics. “I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word, even as I watched my son being selectively and unfairly prosecuted,” Biden said.
He further alleged that the charges stemmed from efforts by political opponents in Congress to undermine his presidency. “The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents instigated them to attack me and oppose my election,” he added.
“I have wrestled with this deeply,” Biden concluded. “While I believe in the justice system, I also believe raw politics has tainted this process, resulting in a miscarriage of justice.”
The pardon has sparked intense debate, with critics accusing the president of prioritizing familial ties over impartial governance and supporters viewing the move as a stand against politically charged prosecutions.
