No, Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush Didn’t Grant Pardons to Family Members

Following President Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter, social media platforms have become inundated with claims that former presidents also pardoned their relatives. On December 2, 2024, Biden granted a pardon to Hunter Biden, who was facing serious felony charges.

In the wake of this decision, discussions arose suggesting that Biden’s action would not tarnish his legacy, a sentiment contrasted by claims of historical precedents involving former presidents like Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush. Supporters referenced supposed pardons of family members by these presidents, with some specifically mentioning Carter’s brother, Billy, and Bush’s son, Neil.

A VERIFY reader sought clarity on whether these assertions held any truth. The inquiry prompted an examination of the historical records associated with presidential pardons.

Despite popular claims, both George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter did not pardon family members. Records indicate that while Carter’s brother was scrutinized during a Senate investigation, he never faced criminal charges that could warrant a pardon. Similarly, Neil Bush was involved in a civil lawsuit tied to the failure of Silverado Banking, thus exempting him from potential pardoning under U.S. law.

The U.S. Department of Justice maintains comprehensive documents listing presidential pardons, yet neither Billy Carter nor Neil Bush appears on these records. Additional investigations show that Billy Carter received a loan from Libyan officials, but this too led to no criminal charges. Meanwhile, Neil Bush settled a lawsuit arising from the Silverado Banking crisis, avoiding criminal implications.

Interestingly, a recent article in Esquire published assertions regarding Bush’s pardon of Neil Bush, but this content has since been removed and corrected, acknowledging the inaccuracy of the claim.

Furthermore, misinformation persists regarding other former presidents as well. Co-host Ana Navarro-Cárdenas of The View circulated a post asserting that Bill Clinton pardoned his brother and Donald Trump pardoned Charlie Kushner, his daughter’s father-in-law. While the first two claims are accurate, no evidence supports the supposed pardon by Woodrow Wilson of a brother-in-law named Hunter deButts.

Navarro-Cárdenas later admitted to sourcing her information from the AI chatbot ChatGPT, which led her astray regarding Wilson’s family ties. Reports confirm ChatGPT’s tendency to produce errors termed “hallucinations,” often mixing factual details with fabrications.

Research from the University of Maryland highlights that AI frequently generates misleading content, prompting advisors to verify crucial information independently. This situation underscores the need for critical engagement with AI-generated data, particularly when it comes to discussing historical and legal claims.