President Joe Biden has made a bold and emotional decision: he’s pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, over charges of illegal gun possession and tax issues. The move, announced on Sunday, Dec. 1, marks a significant moment for the Biden family and the nation.
In a heartfelt statement, President Biden, 82, explained why he chose to use his presidential power in this way. “I believe in the justice system, but I also believe raw politics has infected this process, leading to a miscarriage of justice,” he wrote. “Once I made this decision, there was no sense in delaying it further.”
Hunter, 54, faced serious legal trouble. He was convicted in June for illegal gun possession after it was revealed he lied about his drug addiction to obtain a firearm in 2018. Additionally, he faced nine tax charges for failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes, money that was reportedly spent on a lavish lifestyle involving luxury hotels, cars, and drugs. Together, these charges carried a potential 42-year prison sentence.
The president’s statement didn’t shy away from addressing the political firestorm surrounding his son’s legal troubles. He argued that Hunter’s prosecution was politically motivated, pointing to Congress members from opposing parties who, he said, “instigated” the charges to hurt him politically. Biden also criticized the collapse of a plea deal that could have resolved Hunter’s cases without a trial, blaming it on political pressure.
“People are almost never brought to trial for gun charges like Hunter’s unless there are aggravating factors like using the weapon in a crime or making multiple illegal purchases,” Biden said. “And as for the tax charges, those who pay their debts with interest, as Hunter did, usually face civil penalties, not criminal ones. It’s clear my son was treated differently.”
Hunter also shared his thoughts, expressing gratitude and a renewed sense of purpose. “I’ve owned up to my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction,” he said in an email. “Those mistakes have been exploited to humiliate me and my family, but I won’t take this pardon lightly. I want to focus on helping others who are still struggling.”
This pardon marks a turning point for President Biden, who had previously pledged not to interfere with his son’s legal battles. He had often reiterated that he would respect the legal process. But on Sunday, he acknowledged the personal toll of watching his son face what he called “selective prosecution.”
“There’s been an effort to break Hunter — and in trying to break him, they’ve tried to break me,” the president wrote. “Enough is enough.”
Hunter, who has been sober for over five years, is now focused on moving forward. His father, in closing his statement, reflected on the unique position he’s in as both a president and a parent. “I hope Americans will understand why a father and a president would come to this decision,” Biden said.
This decision, deeply personal and undeniably political, underscores the complexities of family, justice, and public scrutiny in the highest office of the land.
