US President Biden Pardons Son Hunter in criminal cases - Backtracking From His Past Promises
On sunday night, outgoing US President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter, avoiding a potential jail sentence for federal felony gun and tax offenses, reversing his earlier pledges to refrain from using the exceptional powers of the office for the benefit of his family. Following his convictions in the two instances in Delaware and California, Biden had previously stated that he would neither commute his sentence nor pardon his son.
The action was taken less than two months before President-elect donald trump was scheduled to arrive at the white house, and weeks before Hunter Biden was scheduled to be punished for his trial conviction in the gun case and guilty plea on tax crimes. This marks the end of the protracted court battle for President Joe Biden's son. A month after his father's win in the 2020 presidential election, Hunter Biden openly declared in december 2020 that he was the subject of a federal investigation.
The action was taken less than two months before President-elect donald trump was scheduled to arrive at the white house, and weeks before Hunter Biden was scheduled to be punished for his trial conviction in the gun case and guilty plea on tax crimes. This marks the end of the protracted court battle for President Joe Biden's son. A month after his father's win in the 2020 presidential election, Hunter Biden openly declared in december 2020 that he was the subject of a federal investigation.
Biden Backtracks On Promise
Biden categorically rejected the idea of his son receiving a pardon or commutation in June. In Delaware, where Hunter was on trial for a gun-related charge, Biden told reporters, "I respect the jury's verdict. I'll do it, and I won't forgive him."
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre most recently reaffirmed that Hunter Biden would not receive a pardon or clemency on november 8, a few days after Donald Trump's election, saying, "We've been asked that issue several times. Our response, "no," remains unchanged.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre most recently reaffirmed that Hunter Biden would not receive a pardon or clemency on november 8, a few days after Donald Trump's election, saying, "We've been asked that issue several times. Our response, "no," remains unchanged.
"Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter," President Biden said in a statement, claiming that the prosecution was politically motivated and a "miscarriage of justice."
"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," he continued, "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," Biden continued.
He went on to say, "I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision," adding that he had decided over the weekend while spending Thanksgiving with Hunter and his family in Nantucket, Massachusetts.
"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," he continued, "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," Biden continued.
He went on to say, "I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision," adding that he had decided over the weekend while spending Thanksgiving with Hunter and his family in Nantucket, Massachusetts.