President Biden Grants Pardon to Hunter on Gun and Tax Offenses

WASHINGTON — In a surprising shift, President Joe Biden announced on Sunday night that he has granted a pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, reversing his earlier commitment not to intervene in the judicial process concerning his son’s legal issues, which include gun-related charges and tax offenses.

“I believe in the justice system,” Biden emphasized in a statement. “However, I also believe politics has tainted this process, leading to a miscarriage of justice. After reaching this decision this weekend, I felt there was no reason to postpone it. I hope the American people can appreciate why a father and a President would arrive at this conclusion.”

Hunter Biden, the president’s only surviving son, has been a focal point for Republican criticism, with numerous inquiries aiming to connect him to broader allegations of corruption involving his father. Nonetheless, no evidence has established any wrongdoing by President Biden.

“No reasonable person examining the facts can conclude otherwise than that Hunter was targeted solely due to his relation to me,” Biden stated. “This treatment is unjust. Hunter has remained sober for five and a half years, even amidst relentless scrutiny and selective prosecution.”

The gun-related conviction for Hunter emanated from a federal jury’s June verdict, regarding his false declaration on a firearms purchase form in 2018, where he claimed he was not using illegal drugs while owning the weapon. This infraction carried a potential prison sentence.

In addition to the gun charges, Hunter also entered a guilty plea to federal tax violations in California.

This decision arrives at the conclusion of a holiday weekend, as President Biden’s term nears its end, with President-elect Donald Trump set to assume office in January.

U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, criticized the President’s decision, accusing him of lying about his family’s alleged corrupt influence-peddling activities.

Last updated 7:34 p.m., Dec. 1, 2024