President Joe Biden has granted a sweeping pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, shielding him from potential prison time for federal felony gun and tax charges. The decision, announced Sunday night, contradicts the president's previous pledges not to use his authority to benefit his family and has sparked sharp criticism from political opponents.
In a statement explaining his decision, Biden said, "I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice." He added that his son had been "singled out only because he is my son - and that is wrong."
The pardon covers not only Hunter Biden's gun and tax offenses but also any other federal crimes he may have committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024. The move marks the culmination of a prolonged legal saga for Hunter, who faced intense scrutiny for his overseas business dealings and struggles with addiction, issues that opponents used as a political cudgel against his father.
Hunter Biden had been convicted in June on three gun-related felonies for purchasing a firearm in 2018 while allegedly addicted to drugs. He was also set to plead guilty to misdemeanor tax charges after failing to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes. The charges carried a potential combined sentence of up to 42 years, though federal sentencing guidelines suggested significantly less.
House Republicans, who have long targeted the younger Biden, were quick to condemn the decision. "It's unfortunate that, rather than come clean about their decades of wrongdoing, President Biden and his family continue to do everything they can to avoid accountability," Rep. James Comer (R., Ky.), chair of the House Oversight Committee, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Senator Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa) expressed surprise at the decision, writing, "I'm shocked Pres Biden pardoned his son Hunter bc he said many many times he wouldn't & I believed him. Shame on me."
Criticism of the pardon also came from within Biden's own party. Colorado Governor Jared Polis, a Democrat, said in a post, "While as a father I certainly understand President Biden's natural desire to help his son... this is a bad precedent that could be abused by later presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation."
The decision contrasts with Biden's repeated public assertions that he would not intervene in his son's legal cases. As recently as June, Biden stated, "I will abide by the jury decision. I will do that, and I will not pardon him."
Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for President-elect Donald Trump, seized on the pardon as evidence of systemic injustice. "That system of justice must be fixed and due process must be restored for all Americans," Cheung said. Trump himself criticized the move on Truth Social, asking, "Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!"
The pardon also sparked legal developments. Hunter Biden's legal team filed motions in federal courts in Los Angeles and Delaware on Sunday night to dismiss the charges against him, citing the pardon. Hunter Biden himself released a statement saying he would devote his life to helping others in recovery. "I have admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction," he said.
The political fallout from the pardon is likely to follow Biden as he prepares to leave office in January. Critics argue that the decision undermines his promise to restore integrity to the presidency after what he described as the divisive tenure of Donald Trump.
