President Joe Biden issued a full and unconditional pardon for his son Hunter on Sunday, citing politically motivated charges that targeted the younger Biden. The move comes weeks before President Biden leaves office and transfers power to Donald Trump.
The pardon covers Hunter’s federal conviction for illegally buying a gun and tax evasion charges related to his work with foreign companies while his father was in office. Mr. Biden said he acted after realizing the charges were influenced by politics, not justice.
Hunter Biden faced up to 25 years in prison but is likely to receive a lighter sentence due to first-time offender status. The decision has sparked criticism from some lawmakers, who say it undermines the independence of the Justice Department.
This is not the first time a president has pardoned a family member. President Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother Roger Clinton before leaving office, and Donald Trump pardoned his son-in-law Jared Kushner’s father Charles Kushner.
The pardon comes as the Biden administration faces criticism for handling high-profile cases, including Hunter Biden’s conviction in September for nine federal tax charges.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/01/us/politics/biden-pardon-son-hunter.html