Joe Biden Signed a Pardon for His Son, Hunter

Joe Biden, the President of the United States, announced that he has pardoned his son, Hunter, in two cases that could have led to prison sentences. On Sunday night, December 2, he wrote in a statement: "Today I signed a pardon for my son Hunter. Since the day I took office, I have said that I will not interfere in the decisions of the Department of Justice, and I have acted on my word, even though I witnessed selective and unfair prosecutions against my son." Biden had previously stated multiple times that he would not grant presidential pardon to his son if convicted, and a White House spokesperson reiterated this last month. Biden noted that the charges against his son were instigated by his political rivals in Congress, stating that typically someone is not criminally charged merely for how they filled out a gun purchase form or for delays in tax payments due to severe addiction, especially after paying it with interest and penalties. He emphasized that his son has not turned to addiction over the past five and a half years despite the pressures on him and added: "I hope Americans understand why a father and a president arrives at this decision [to issue a pardon]." The U.S. President stressed that he believes in the judicial system but believes this particular case became tainted by purely political issues. According to the Associated Press, Hunter Biden's sentences in two separate cases being handled in Delaware and California were set to be issued in two weeks. The Delaware case relates to a gun purchase in 2018 when he was addicted to drugs; the court found him guilty on the charges. The second case in California involved failing to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes; however, he unexpectedly accepted his charges in September. Hunter Biden accepted all charges in the tax evasion case. The President of the United States has the authority to issue pardons. Biden signed the pardon for his son while he is set to leave the White House next month, with Donald Trump replacing him.