Rita Odafe
Joe Biden, the President of the United States, has pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, ahead of his impending departure from office. Hunter was due for sentencing this month on federal charges related to taxes and firearms.
On December 1, the White House released a statement where President Biden contended that his son had been “unfairly targeted” and prosecuted solely because of his family connections.
This pardon is final and cannot be undone by President-elect Donald Trump.
Hunter Biden was facing sentencing on December 12 for federal gun charges and was also set for sentencing on December 16 for tax evasion, to which he pled guilty in September.
“I trust the justice system, but through my reflections, I’ve come to believe that raw politics have tainted the process, leading to an injustice. Once I reached this conclusion this weekend, I saw no reason to delay further. I hope the American public can understand the rationale behind a father’s and a president’s decision,” Biden stated.
The president provided a “full and unconditional pardon” for any actions Hunter Biden may have engaged in from January 1, 2014, to December 1, 2024, as noted by the White House.
In his remarks, Biden addressed his son’s battle with addiction, suggesting that political adversaries were trying to harm him by going after Hunter.
“No reasonable person could look at the facts surrounding Hunter’s cases and conclude anything other than that he was targeted due to our family connection — that’s simply incorrect,” Biden added. “They have attempted to undermine Hunter—who has maintained sobriety for over five years despite continuous scrutiny and selective prosecution. In their attempts to hurt him, they aimed to hurt me as well. This has to stop.”
Hunter also released a statement, acknowledging his past errors during his struggle with addiction, stating that these issues have been used to publicly attack him and his family for political gain.
“Despite all the challenges, I have upheld my sobriety for over five years, thanks to my strong faith and the steadfast support from my family and friends. I wasted many opportunities in the grip of addiction, but recovery allows us to make amends and rebuild our lives. I will not take the clemency granted to me today lightly, and I will dedicate myself to helping those still in need,” he expressed.
Steven Cheung, spokesperson for President-elect Donald Trump, criticized the situation, stating, “The ongoing investigations against President Trump demonstrate that the Democratic-controlled Justice Department and certain biased prosecutors have manipulated the legal system. This must be rectified, and due process needs to be reinstated for everyone, which is precisely what President Trump will achieve upon his return to the White House.”
