US President Joe Biden announced on Sunday, 1 December 2024, that he had granted a full and unconditional pardon to his son, Hunter Biden.
Story Summary:
- President Joe Biden issued a full pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, on 1 December 2024.
- Biden criticised the legal process, claiming Hunter was unfairly prosecuted due to political pressure.
- The President expressed hope that Americans would understand his decision as both a father and a leader.
Joe Biden pardons Hunter ‘unconditionally’
The decision came after years of legal battles surrounding Hunter’s tax issues and a firearm-related charge.
In a statement, President Biden said the pardon was motivated by what he described as a miscarriage of justice.
RelatedPosts
“From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word,” Biden stated.
He added, “However, it is clear that Hunter was treated differently.”
The President made it clear that similar cases involving late tax payments or errors on firearm forms are often resolved without criminal charges.
He accused political opponents in Congress of pressuring the legal system to target his son, undermining the plea deal initially reached between Hunter Biden and the Department of Justice.
Biden defends his decision
President Biden revealed the toll the prosecution has taken on his son, who he said has maintained sobriety for five and a half years despite ongoing legal scrutiny.
“In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me,” Biden remarked.
He said his decision was informed by his belief in justice but also his conviction that political motives influenced the case against his son.
Hunter Biden faced allegations of late tax payments, which he repaid with interest and penalties, and falsifying information on a gun purchase form, a charge often resolved without felony prosecution in similar circumstances.
Biden closed his statement by addressing the American public directly, expressing hope for understanding.
“I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision,” he said.
