President Biden Pardons Son Hunter After Saying Repetedly He Would Not

In a move that has ignited intense political debate and surprised practically no one, President Joe Biden issued a full and unconditional pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, on December 1, 2024. This decision comes just days after the Octogenerian pardoned two Turkeys at Thanksgiving and nullifies Hunter’s federal convictions on gun and tax charges, despite the president’s prior assurances that he would not intervene in his son’s legal matters.

The Pardon and Its Scope

The presidential pardon absolves Hunter Biden of any federal offenses committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024. This period encompasses his controversial involvement with the Ukrainian energy company Burisma and other activities that have been scrutinized by political opponents. Notably, the pardon overturns Hunter’s convictions in two significant federal cases:

• Firearm Charges: In June 2024, Hunter was convicted on three felony counts related to illegal firearm possession, including making false statements about his drug use when purchasing a handgun in 2018.
• Tax Evasion: In September 2024, he pleaded guilty to nine counts of tax evasion, admitting to failing to pay over $1.4 million in federal taxes from 2016 to 2019.

President Biden’s Justification

President Joe Biden justified his pardon of Hunter Biden by pointing to what he called selective and unfair prosecution driven by political motivations. He argued that the charges against his son were instigated by political opponents aiming to undermine his presidency and obstruct his election efforts. Biden asserted that Hunter was treated disproportionately compared to others with similar offenses, noting that such cases rarely escalate to felony charges or trials.

The president also highlighted Hunter’s battle with addiction, emphasizing his five-and-a-half years of sobriety and framing the prosecution as an attempt to “break” his son during his recovery. Biden described the situation as a miscarriage of justice, claiming that “raw politics had infected the process.” He appealed to the public’s empathy, asking them to understand his decision as both a father protecting his son and as a leader acting on what he believed was an unjust targeting. Initially, Biden stated, he had respected the Justice Department’s independence, but ultimately, he felt compelled to intervene in what he saw as an egregious injustice.

Political Repercussions

The pardon has drawn sharp criticism from Republicans and other political figures. President-elect Donald Trump condemned the move as a “miscarriage of justice” and questioned whether the pardon would extend to individuals convicted in connection with the January 6 Capitol riot.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer strongly criticized President Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter, accusing the president of dishonesty and corruption. Comer stated that “Joe Biden has lied from start to finish about his family’s corrupt influence-peddling activities,” highlighting claims that Biden falsely denied meeting with Hunter’s foreign business associates and insisted his son had done nothing wrong.

Comer also reminded the public that Biden previously stated he would not pardon Hunter, calling this reversal yet another lie. He described the charges against Hunter as “just the tip of the iceberg” in what he called the “blatant corruption” of the Biden family.

Additionally, Comer expressed disappointment in the Biden family’s refusal to take accountability for their alleged decades of wrongdoing. He framed the pardon as part of a broader pattern of evasion and deception, accusing President Biden and his family of doing everything possible to avoid transparency and justice.

This action represents a significant departure from President Biden’s earlier commitments to uphold the independence of the Justice Department and not to interfere in his son’s legal proceedings. The timing, just weeks before the transition of power to President-elect Trump, has intensified scrutiny and speculation about the motivations behind the pardon.

Implications for the Justice System

President Biden’s pardon of his son carries significant implications for the American judicial system. It risks eroding public trust in the impartiality of justice by appearing to show preferential treatment based on familial connections. The decision further entangles politics with the rule of law, setting a troubling precedent for future presidents to use pardons for personal or political gain. This action may encourage more liberal use of clemency powers, particularly for family members or close associates, altering long-standing norms surrounding presidential pardons.

The pardon is also likely to heighten political polarization, especially during the transition to a new administration. Biden may face pressure to extend his use of pardon powers, including potentially shielding prosecutors involved in politically charged cases. Moreover, the decision could impact ongoing investigations into Hunter Biden’s business dealings, potentially narrowing the scope of future inquiries. Critics argue that this move challenges the independence of the judiciary, raising concerns about executive overreach and the separation of powers.

Collectively, these implications reflect a growing trend of blurred lines between politics and justice, undermining principles of equal treatment under the law and threatening the integrity of the American judicial system.

Historical Context

Presidential pardons have historically been sources of controversy, especially when perceived as self-serving or politically motivated. President Biden‘s decision to pardon his son Hunter is both historically significant and highly controversial. While presidential pardons have always been a source of debate, pardoning a close family member is exceptionally rare. Some other controversial pardons include Bill Clinton’s pardon of his half-brother, Roger Clinton, for drug offenses; Donald Trump’s pardon of Charles Kushner, his son-in-law’s father, for financial and legal crimes; Gerald Ford’s pardon of Richard Nixon after Watergate; George H.W. Bush’s pardons of officials involved in the Iran-Contra affair, and Jimmy Carter’s pardon of Vietnam War draft evaders. These actions often sparked political backlash and raised questions about the potential misuse of presidential power.

Biden’s pardon of Hunter is particularly notable because it contradicts his earlier public promise not to interfere in his son’s legal matters. While the constitutional power to grant pardons is meant to promote justice and unity, using it for family members or close associates has often been criticized as a conflict of interest or an abuse of power. This decision comes at a politically sensitive time as Biden nears the end of his presidency, with Republicans continuing to scrutinize Hunter Biden’s business dealings and their potential connections to the president’s political career.

Hunter Biden’s Response

Hunter Biden released a statement following the announcement of his pardon, expressing gratitude and a commitment to helping others. He vowed,

“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.”

Acknowledging his past mistakes, Hunter reflected on the challenges of his addiction and the political exploitation of his struggles. “I have admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction,” he said, adding that these mistakes had been used to “publicly humiliate and shame me and my family for political sport.”

Looking Forward

As the nation approaches a change in administration, the pardon of Hunter Biden is likely to remain a contentious issue. It could serve as a focal point for ongoing debates about the politicization of the justice system. The challenge moving forward will be to navigate these complexities while striving to maintain public confidence in the rule of law and the equitable application of justice.