President Joe Biden has pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, who faced convictions for tax violations and firearms-related charges. This decision marks a significant reversal from the president’s earlier stance against intervening in his son’s legal matters.
What’s Happening: Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to tax-related crimes and was convicted on federal gun charges earlier this year. Despite previously stating he would not pardon his son, President Biden granted clemency, citing what he perceives as unjust treatment due to Hunter’s association with him.
Why It Matters: This pardon has ignited a political debate. Republicans, including President-elect Donald Trump, have criticized the move as an abuse of justice. They argue it exemplifies corruption and misuse of political power. Conversely, President Biden defends his decision, asserting that similar cases typically result in noncriminal resolutions and that his son was unfairly targeted.
What Does Biden Have to Say?: In a statement released along with the pardon, Biden blamed partisan politics for his son’s legal battles and said he hopes the American people will understand his decision.
“I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision.”
The Statement: Since Biden has asked Americans to understand his reasons, the entire statement from Joe Biden is below so that you can read it for yourself:
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. 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 noncriminal resolutions. It is clear that Hunter was treated differently.
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. Then, a carefully negotiated plea deal, agreed to by the Department of Justice, unraveled in the court room – with a number of my political opponents in Congress taking credit for bringing political pressure on the process. Had the plea deal held, it would have been a fair, reasonable resolution of Hunter’s cases.
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. 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.
For my entire career I have followed a simple principle: just tell the American people the truth. They’ll be fair-minded. Here’s the truth: I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice – and once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further. I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision.
What’s Next: Hunter Biden has expressed gratitude for the pardon, acknowledging his past mistakes during a period of addiction and emphasizing his commitment to helping others facing similar struggles. As the political landscape shifts with the incoming administration, this development is expected to remain a focal point of discussion.
This unprecedented action of a sitting president pardoning his own child raises questions about the complex interplay between personal loyalty and public duty, leaving the nation divided on the implications for justice and political ethics.
What Do You Say?: What do you think? Should Joe Biden have pardoned his son? Tell us in the comments below.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
