Outgoing US President Joe Biden has issued a “full and unconditional” pardon to his son Hunter Biden, who faced federal charges for owning a gun and tax evasion. The President has said that his son was “unfairly” prosecuted for these charges by his political opponents.
In his last weeks as US President, Biden faced an unusual dilemma.
As the Commander-In-Chief, the 82-year-old has the power to grant a pardon to anyone facing a federal crime. It’s a power that has been utilised by most presidents, controversially and uncontroversially.
In December, 54-year-old Hunter Biden — the President’s only surviving family member from his first marriage after his wife and daughter were killed in a car accident in 1971 — faced jail over the federal crime of illegally possessing a gun and tax evasion.
However, many Democrats say that these charges were the result of political persecution with the intent of undermining Biden’s presidency.
Throughout his time as President, Biden stayed clear of the charges his son faced, and promised during his campaign for a second term that he would not give a pardon to Hunter.
But now, as the United States’ oldest-ever President, Biden faces the chance that he will be on his deathbed while his eldest child is imprisoned over politicised charges.
This put Biden in an awkward position as he faced his final weeks as President: to pardon or not to pardon?
Joe Biden pardons Hunter Biden
The President announced that over the weekend, he and his wife Jill Biden had discussions to pardon their son. Joe Biden announced the pardon to the public in a statement on Sunday evening, local time.
“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,” Biden said.
“The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election.”
Statement from President Biden
— CSPAN (@cspan) December 2, 2024
“Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter…”
Full statement: https://t.co/InKuzm3vMF pic.twitter.com/vhxIjr1xIe
Biden explained that he tried having negotiations with Republican members of Congress to get a plea deal for his son, but this ultimately failed, resulting in the need for a pardon.
“No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son – and that is wrong,” he said.
“There has been an effort to break Hunter – who has been five and a half years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution. In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me – and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough.”
Biden ended his statement by highlighting his belief in upholding the justice system, however this issue led him to feel politics caused a miscarriage of justice.
“I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision.”
Lead Image: Getty
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