In a surprising move, U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a “full and unconditional” pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, covering his conviction on gun charges and his guilty plea in a separate tax evasion case. The pardon, announced on Sunday, marks a reversal of Biden’s previous stance, as he had earlier stated that he would not use his executive powers to intervene in his son’s legal matters.
Pardon Comes Ahead of Sentencing
Hunter Biden is scheduled to be sentenced on December 12 for federal gun charges, followed by a separate sentencing on December 16 for pleading guilty to federal tax evasion charges. In his statement, President Biden explained that he had decided to reverse his earlier promise not to intervene in the judicial process. He said he had kept his word not to interfere with the Justice Department, but noted that he had watched his son being “selectively and unfairly prosecuted.”
Hunter Biden was convicted in June for felony charges related to his 2018 purchase of a handgun, for which he falsely claimed on the purchase form that he was not a user of illicit drugs. Biden criticized the prosecution, stating that his son was treated unfairly and was prosecuted without any aggravating factors like using the gun in a crime or purchasing it illegally. He also pointed out that the charges were only brought after political opponents in Congress pushed for legal action to attack him and undermine his presidency.
