WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Joe Biden announced today that he has granted a full and unconditional pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, in a move he described as a response to “raw politics” influencing the judicial process.
The pardon, effective immediately, covers offenses committed by Hunter Biden between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024, including charges brought by Special Counsel David C. Weiss. These charges, which included allegations of false information on a gun purchase form and delayed tax payments, sparked intense political and public scrutiny.
In June when pressed the President said that he would not pardon his son going a full 180 on his statement.
In a statement, President Biden emphasized his belief that his son was unfairly targeted due to his familial connection to the presidency. “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,” Biden stated.
The president criticized the unraveling of a plea deal negotiated between the Department of Justice and Hunter Biden, attributing its collapse to political pressure from his opponents in Congress. He also highlighted the disproportionate nature of the charges, noting that similar cases involving delayed tax payments and errors on gun forms typically result in non-criminal resolutions.
“These funds [from late taxes] were paid back with interest and penalties. People in similar circumstances are rarely prosecuted, yet Hunter faced relentless attacks and selective prosecution,” Biden said, pointing to his son’s recovery and sobriety over the past five and a half years despite the intense scrutiny.
The decision to pardon Hunter Biden, the president said, was a deeply personal and moral one. “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 stated, urging Americans to understand his perspective as both a father and the president.
The pardon comes amid ongoing political polarization and speculation about its potential impact on the 2024 presidential race. Biden concluded his statement by reaffirming his belief in the justice system while condemning the role of “raw politics” in his son’s case.
The official pardon document was signed by President Biden and recorded with the Department of Justice earlier today.
