President Biden Pardons His Son Hunter Biden
President Joe Biden said on Sunday that he has signed “a full and unconditional pardon” for his son, Hunter Biden.605
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President Joe Biden (2nd L) walks with son Hunter Biden (R), grandson Beau and daughter-in-law Melissa Cohen Biden after having lunch in Nantucket, Massachusetts, on Nov. 29, 2024. MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images
By Melanie Sun
12/1/2024Updated: 12/1/2024
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President Joe Biden said on Sunday that he has signed “a full and unconditional pardon” for his son, Hunter Biden.
Hunter Biden was charged on nine counts of federal tax evasion to the sum of $1.4 million (£1 million) between 2016 to 2019. He pleaded guilty to the tax charges in September as part of a plea deal.
“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,” the outgoing president said in a statement.
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“Without aggravating factors like use in a crime, multiple purchases, or buying a weapon as a straw purchaser, people are almost never brought to trial on felony charges solely for how they filled out a gun form. 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 that Hunter was treated differently.”
President Biden said it was his view that the charges against his son were the result of the actions of his political opponents in Congress in order to attack him and deter Americans from supporting him in the 2020 election.
President Biden added that the carefully negotiated plea deal had ultimately failed due to political pressure from his opponents on the legal process.
