Joe Biden has granted a pardon to his son Hunter, which carries important implications and significance.

Hunter Biden, the son of Joe Biden, received a pardon for two felony convictions. This is the information we have gathered.

On December 2, 2024, President Joe Biden granted a pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, for two felony offenses, which included tax evasion and the acquisition of a handgun.

Here’s what we understand regarding the case and the pardon:

He was confronted with a potential 17-year sentence for the tax case, along with 25 years for the firearms charges. Hunter was anticipated to receive a reduced sentence and might have evaded incarceration.

Hunter Biden is set to receive his sentencing on December 12 for gun charges in Delaware and on December 16 for tax charges in California.

Wasn’t Joe Biden opposed to pardoning Hunter?
Certainly.

In June, Biden did not grant his son a pardon or commutation. I respect the jury’s decision. Biden asserted, “I will do it and I will not pardon him,” during his son’s gun trial in Delaware.

Furthermore, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre mentioned on at least seven occasions throughout the year that Biden would not grant a pardon to his son.

Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House Press Secretary, responds to inquiries during a press briefing (File: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters).
Biden aimed to set himself apart from Donald Trump, a former realtor now in politics, who has faced numerous legal challenges, in this year’s presidential election.

“No one is above the law,” he posted on X in early July, possibly in response to the US Supreme Court’s decision that granted Trump extensive protection for legal violations during his presidency.

What was Biden’s explanation for his change in stance?

On Sunday, the White House announced that Hunter Biden was granted executive clemency by President Biden. Biden stated that he made this decision in response to his opponents’ politically driven attack on his character.

“The charges in his cases arose only after a number of my political opponents in Congress encouraged them to target me and resist my election,” Biden stated.

“It is clear to any reasonable observer that Hunter has been targeted solely due to his relationship with me, and that is unjust.”

Biden expressed, “I have faith in the justice system, yet I also think that raw politics have led to a miscarriage of justice.” I trust that the American people can grasp the reasoning behind the decision made by a father and president.

What was Hunter’s reaction?

Hunter expressed that he would never take the break “for granted.”

“I have acknowledged and accepted responsibility for my errors during the most challenging times of my addiction – errors that have been used to publicly humiliate and shame both me and my family for political gain,” he stated.

“I will always appreciate the clemency I have received today and will dedicate my renewed life to assisting those who are sick and in need.”

Pardons serve what purpose?

The US Constitution grants presidents the authority to issue pardons, amnesties, commutations, and respites.

Pardons clear the records of federal criminals and reinstate their civil liberties and rights, while commutations lessen penalties but do not remove them entirely. Amnesty refers to a pardon granted to a group of individuals.

Announcement

This authority originated from English law, which granted the monarch the ability to grant forgiveness to individuals, and it subsequently extended to the American colonies. The President of the United States regularly exercises this authority.

What is the frequency with which presidents grant pardons to their family members?
It is common for US presidents to grant pardons or commute the sentences of their family members.

In the final weeks of 2021, Trump granted pardons and commuted sentences for approximately 100 individuals. He granted clemency to Charles Kushner, the father of Jared Kushner.

Kushner was sentenced to two years in prison for tax evasion, making unlawful political donations, and witness tampering in 2005. In 2024, Trump puts forward Charles Kushner for the position of US ambassador to France.

Before the conclusion of his second term, Bill Clinton granted a pardon to his half-brother Roger. In 1985, Roger Clinton Jr. received a nearly one-year jail sentence after admitting to conspiracy to sell cocaine.

Is this important?

Analysts suggest that this pardon could undermine the US democratic system and the principle of equal justice under the law.

“With the election concluded and Joe Biden no longer facing any races, it appears we are witnessing a father who is diligently caring for his son,” stated US political analyst Eric Ham in an interview with Al Jazeera.

It seems likely that this question will continue to arise among many individuals, and I anticipate increased attention on any pardons that Joe Biden may issue prior to the conclusion of his term. He stated, “I believe it also brings up a broader question regarding the position of the US as a nation governed by laws.”

According to experts, this situation also places the US in a challenging position on the global stage.

Ham stated, “The US will face challenges in targeting other nations such as China, Russia, and North Korea.”

“It seems to blur the lines, making those arguments challenging for the US.” The argument suggests that the US’s case becomes less compelling as Biden and Trump, both of whom campaigned on the promise of pardoning January 6th insurrectionists, take further actions.

“It appears that the law is selectively effective for some individuals,” Ham stated.

Is this comparable to Trump’s statements or actions?

Biden and Trump have both claimed that the Justice Department is politically biased.

Biden stated that the lawsuit was used to weaken his election. Trump asserts that the legal system has been weaponized against him and that he is facing prosecution.

Trump described Hunter’s pardon as an abuse of justice following Biden’s announcement.

Does Joe’s pardon of Hunter also cover the J-6 hostages who have been incarcerated for years? Trump shared a post on social media. The individuals believed to have stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

“This is a clear abuse and miscarriage of justice!”

Supporters of Trump surged into the Capitol following his fervent speech urging them to “fight like hell” against Congress’s acknowledgment of the 2020 election results, a contest he lost to Biden.

What was the response from others?

Senator Charles E. Grassley from Iowa expressed his surprise on Twitter regarding the president’s decision to pardon his son. He stated, “he said many many times he wouldn’t & I believed him.” That’s on me.

Arizona Democrat Greg Stanton expressed on X, “I have respect for President Biden, but I believe he made an error on this matter.” This prosecution was not influenced by any political motives. Hunter was found guilty of felonies by a jury of his peers.

Georgia Republican lawmaker Marjorie Taylor Greene remarked. “Joe Biden is a liar and a hypocrite, all the way to the end.”

Some expressed approval of Biden’s decision, arguing that Hunter faced unfair treatment. Former Attorney General Eric Holder described the pardon as “warranted” on X.

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