President Joe Biden has issued a pardon for his son Hunter, who has been convicted of gun charges and pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion.
In a statement released by the White House, the US president said he had given clemency to Hunter, who was due to be sentenced later this month on two separate criminal cases.
“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 said.
“Without aggravating factors like use in a crime, multiple purchases, or buying a weapon as a straw purchaser, people are almost never brought to trial on felony charges solely for how they filled out a gun form.
“Those who were late paying their taxes because of serious addictions, but paid them back subsequently with interest and penalties, are typically given non-criminal resolutions.
“It is clear that Hunter was treated differently.”
Hunter, 54, was convicted of three firearm charges in June, marking the first criminal prosecution of a sitting US president’s child.
Prosecutors said he lied on a form when buying a Colt Cobra revolver in October 2018 by stating he was not a drug user or addict, despite having a problem with crack cocaine.
Two months later, Hunter pleaded guilty to federal tax charges. He was due to stand trial on criminal charges of failing to pay $1.4m (£1.06m) in taxes while allegedly spending lavishly on drugs, sex workers and luxury items.
The “full and unconditional pardon” covers both the gun charges and federal tax evasion, for which Hunter was due to be sentenced on 12 December and 16 December respectively.
Hunter was set to be sentenced on both criminal cases later this month.
Pic: Reuters
‘Enough is enough’
In the statement, President Biden continued to say the charges against Hunter “came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election”.
The 82-year-old then said Hunter’s plea deal, “agreed to by the Department of Justice, unravelled in the courtroom – with a number of my political opponents in Congress taking credit for bringing political pressure on the process”.
Noting Hunter’s battle with addiction, the president added: “No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son – and that is wrong.
“There has been an effort to break Hunter – who has been five and a half years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution.
“In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me – and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough.”
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U-turn from president
President Biden then said: “For my entire career I have followed a simple principle: just tell the American people the truth. They’ll be fair-minded.”
He insisted “I believe in the justice system,” but said he believes “raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice,” before adding: “I hope Americans will understand why a father and a president would come to this decision.”
It marks a U-turn from the president, however, as he had previously categorically ruled out a pardon or commutation for his son.
President Biden told reporters as Hunter faced trial in the Delaware gun case: “I abide by the jury decision. I will do that and I will not pardon him.”
And as recently as 8 November – the day after Donald Trump was declared the winner in the 2024 election – White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre ruled out a pardon or clemency for Hunter.
“We’ve been asked that question multiple times,” she said. “Our answer stands, which is no.”
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Hunter was also found guilty on charges related to gun possession and drug use. Pic: Reuters
Hunter: Cases were ‘political sport’
In a separate statement, Hunter said he has “admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction,” but said those mistakes “have been exploited to publicly humiliate and shame me and my family for political sport”.
He added: “In recovery we can be given the opportunity to make amends where possible and rebuild our lives if we never take for granted the mercy that we have been afforded.
“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.”
