The turkey wasn’t the only one pardoned by Joe Biden over Thanksgiving weekend. On Sunday, Joe Biden announced he pardoned his son, Hunter, on all his criminal charges. “Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter. 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,” Biden said in a statement issued by the White House.
Hunter Biden was convicted on federal gun charges and tax evasion, the latter of which he pled guilty to. He was set for sentencing for the gun charges on December 12 and for the tax evasion on December 16. The pardon accounts for any offenses committed by Hunter Biden over the ten years of 2014 to 2024.
In his statement, Joe Biden insisted that Hunter was the victim of politicization of the justice system. President-elect Donald Trump has also used this excuse when discussing his federal charges. However, Biden pointed out that his son was mistreated in his tax evasion charges, which were the result of his battle with heroin addiction.
“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 Hunter was treated differently,” President Biden said.
“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 continued.
Biden was adamant throughout his campaign, even after dropping out of the race, that he would not pardon his son. However, he changed his mind with just a few weeks left in office.
Hunter Biden released a separate statement regarding his pardon. “In the throes of addiction, I squandered many opportunities and advantages. 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,” 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.”
