In a controversial move that has sent shockwaves through Washington, President Joe Biden issued a sweeping pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, on Sunday. The pardon, covering all offenses committed against the United States from January 1, 2014, to December 1, 2024, has reignited partisan tensions and prompted strong condemnation from Republican leaders and conservatives.
Hunter Biden, 54, has been at the center of legal and political scrutiny for years. He was convicted earlier this year on federal gun charges and tax evasion offenses. In September, he pleaded guilty to nine counts related to failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes and, in June, was convicted on three firearm-related charges, including possession of a firearm while addicted to illegal drugs.
President Biden defended the pardon in a public statement, framing his son as the victim of targeted legal and political attacks.
“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,” Biden said. “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.”
The pardon not only shields Hunter Biden from existing convictions but also from potential future charges, including violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which were under investigation but never formally brought.
President-elect Donald Trump was quick to respond, calling the pardon a blatant misuse of presidential power. On Truth Social, Trump criticized the move as an “abuse and miscarriage of justice” and questioned whether it set a precedent for pardoning others involved in political controversies.
“Does the pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years?” Trump wrote.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) issued a scathing statement, accusing President Biden of lying about his family’s alleged influence-peddling schemes.
“Joe Biden has lied from start to finish about his family’s corrupt influence-peddling activities. He also lied when he said he would not pardon Hunter Biden,” Comer stated.
Correct. As you said, no pardon for Hunter. pic.twitter.com/n0ITYfPbGz
— Brick Suit (@Brick_Suit) December 2, 2024
“No. No. It’s a no. It will always be a no. Biden will not pardon his son Hunter.”
Guess what? THEY LIED. pic.twitter.com/tClxjSiyLJ
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) December 2, 2024
FLASHBACK: KJP promised in November that Joe Biden would NOT pardon his son Hunter. pic.twitter.com/tNxFXYC64G
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) December 2, 2024
Comer suggested that the crimes Hunter Biden was convicted of were “just the tip of the iceberg,” alleging that the Biden family has engaged in “blatant corruption.”
Critics have pointed out the sharp contrast between the pardon and the Biden administration’s repeated assertions that “no one is above the law.” IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, who previously alleged Justice Department interference in investigations into Hunter Biden, called the pardon “a sad day for law-abiding taxpayers.”
“No amount of lies or spin can hide the simple truth that the Justice Department nearly let the president’s son off the hook for multiple felonies,” they said in a joint statement.
Hunter Biden’s legal troubles stem from lucrative international business dealings that coincided with Joe Biden’s tenure as vice president. These included ties to Ukrainian energy firm Burisma, which paid Hunter a $1 million annual salary despite his lack of energy sector experience, and Chinese state-linked companies, including a $3 million payment from CEFC China Energy.
In a statement released by his legal team, Hunter Biden expressed gratitude for the pardon and pledged to turn his life around.
“I have admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction,” Hunter Biden said. “I will never take the clemency I have been given today for granted.”
The pardon comes as President Biden prepares to leave office and Donald Trump gears up to take the presidency after his victory over Kamala Harris in the November election. The timing of the pardon has fueled speculation that Biden sought to protect his son from further legal jeopardy as the administration transitions.
Republicans are likely to use the pardon as a rallying point in their efforts to investigate alleged misconduct within the Biden family. House Republicans had previously examined evidence suggesting Joe Biden met with Hunter’s business associates and may have played a role in some of his dealings.
The decision to pardon Hunter Biden is sure to be a defining moment in Joe Biden’s legacy, drawing praise from loyalists and condemnation from critics. Supporters argue that the pardon reflects a father’s commitment to his son, who has battled addiction and public scrutiny for years. Opponents, however, view it as a gross misuse of presidential power that undermines the principle of equal justice under the law.
As the Biden administration comes to a close, the fallout from this controversial move will likely linger, fueling partisan debates and shaping the narrative of both Joe and Hunter Biden’s place in history.
