President Biden Pardons Son Hunter Amid Controversial Legal Battles

Washington, D.C. – U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a formal pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, who was facing sentencing in two criminal cases involving tax evasion and a firearm purchase.

In a statement released on the matter, the President defended his decision, stating: “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.” He described the legal proceedings as “a miscarriage of justice.”

Hunter Biden was convicted earlier this year of a felony for lying about his drug use when purchasing a firearm. He also pleaded guilty in a separate case involving tax evasion.

The pardon is a marked shift from President Biden’s previous stance of non-intervention in his son’s legal troubles. As recently as September, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre affirmed that the President would not issue a pardon.

In his statement, Biden acknowledged his earlier commitment to allowing the Justice Department to operate independently but criticized what he perceived as politically motivated charges against his son.

“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,” Biden said.

He further argued that the charges were instigated by his political opponents in Congress as a means to undermine his presidency.

The pardon comes at a time when legal cases against former President Donald Trump, Biden’s likely Republican rival in the 2024 election, have slowed. A recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity has effectively halted ongoing criminal proceedings against Trump, who was convicted earlier this year of falsifying business records in a landmark case. The ruling all but guarantees Trump will avoid incarceration.

President Biden contrasted his son’s legal struggles with the perceived leniency granted to Trump, suggesting “raw politics” had infected the justice system. “I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice.”

The pardon is expected to spark intense political debate, adding another layer of complexity to an already charged presidential race.