Public statements or media coverage

President Biden Pardons Son Hunter on Gun and Tax Charges Covering 2014-2024

Dec 2, 2024, 04:19 PM

President Joe Biden has issued a full pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, covering offenses from 2014 to 2024, including tax evasion and illegal possession of firearms, despite previously pledging not to do so. The pardon comes just weeks before Hunter's scheduled sentencing on these charges. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that the President made the decision over the weekend, having struggled with it, and believes his son was unfairly targeted and that politics infected the judicial process. Reports indicate that Biden had been considering the pardon since at least June, although he and his aides had repeatedly denied that a pardon was being considered. The decision has sparked political controversy, drawing criticism from Republicans, including President-elect Donald Trump, who described the pardon as a judicial mistake, and praise from fellow Democrats.