US President Joe Biden has granted a full and unconditional pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, who was facing sentencing for two criminal cases.
In a statement, President Biden said his son had been “singled out” and described the cases against him as “a miscarriage of justice.”
“From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted,” he stated.
Hunter Biden had pleaded guilty to tax charges in September and was convicted in June of being an illegal drug user in possession of a firearm, making him the first child of a sitting president to be convicted of a crime.
The pardon comes after President Biden had previously ruled out granting clemency to his son. In September, the White House press secretary reiterated that the president would not issue a pardon. However, on Sunday evening, Biden justified his decision, citing the influence of politics on the legal process.
“Politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice,” the president remarked. “Once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further.”
He added, “I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision.”
Reacting to the pardon, Hunter Biden expressed gratitude, acknowledging his past mistakes during the “darkest days” of his addiction.
“Mistakes I made have been exploited to publicly humiliate and shame my family for political sport,” he said. “I will never take the clemency I have been given today for granted and will devote the life I have rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering.”
Hunter, now 54, has reportedly been sober for over five years, a milestone his father highlighted in his statement.
Hunter had pleaded guilty to nine counts of federal tax fraud in September, which could have carried a prison sentence of up to 17 years. In June, he was also convicted of three felonies related to a gun purchase, for which he faced up to 25 years in prison.
Sentencing for these cases was initially scheduled for 12 and 16 December.
The legal troubles surrounding Hunter Biden had cast a shadow over his father’s presidency and political career. President Biden had withdrawn from the 2024 election race in July, endorsing Vice-President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate. Harris ultimately lost to Republican Donald Trump in November.
Trump, who will succeed Biden, is set to assume the presidency on Inauguration Day, 20 January 2025.