WASHINGTON (AP) -- US President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter, on Sunday night, sparing him a possible prison sentence for federal felony gun and tax convictions. This decision contradicts past promises not to use presidential powers for family benefits.
The Democratic president had previously stated he would not pardon his son following convictions in Delaware and California cases.
This move comes weeks before Hunter Biden's scheduled punishment after a trial conviction in the gun case and guilty plea on tax charges, just under two months before President-elect Donald Trump is set to return to the White House.
"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," said Biden in a statement released Sunday evening.
The sweeping pardon covers not only the gun and tax offenses against Hunter but also any other "offenses against the United States" committed from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024.
"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," Biden stated. "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."
"I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision," added Biden.
Hunter Biden was convicted in June for purchasing a gun while allegedly lying about drug use. He faced trial for failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes but agreed to plead guilty unexpectedly as jury selection began.
David Weiss, initially appointed by Trump as US attorney in Delaware, negotiated the plea deal before being named special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland for more autonomy over Hunter's prosecution.
"I have admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction - mistakes that have been exploited to publicly humiliate and shame me and my family for political sport," said Hunter Biden.