President Joe Biden officially pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, on Sunday night, wiping the slate clean after Hunter’s convictions in two separate federal cases earlier this year. The announcement came as no great shock to critics, who had long speculated that the president might eventually shield his embattled son from legal consequences despite earlier pledges to stay out of the Justice Department’s decisions.
In a statement released by the White House, Biden explained his reasoning, arguing that Hunter was subjected to selective and unfair prosecution. He claimed that similar offenses, particularly those involving gun forms and late tax payments, rarely result in criminal charges unless exacerbated by aggravating factors. The president framed the pardon as a move to right a perceived injustice, rather than an act of favoritism. However, the timing and nature of the pardon are raising eyebrows across the political spectrum.
Hunter Biden’s legal troubles have been headline fodder throughout the year. In June, he faced trial in Delaware over three felony firearm charges. By September, he was pleading guilty in a separate tax case, which only added fuel to the political firestorm surrounding the first family. Despite his earlier assurances to the media that he wouldn’t intervene, President Biden’s actions mark a stark departure from his public stance over the summer when he repeatedly stated he would let the legal process play out without interference.
This pivot is particularly notable given the president’s own comments during Hunter’s legal proceedings. As recently as after Hunter’s conviction on the firearm charges, Biden told reporters that he would “abide by the jury’s decision.” That decision, however, painted a damning picture: prosecutors successfully argued that Hunter had lied on a federal firearm form in 2018 by denying his drug use while purchasing a Cobra Colt .38 handgun. Evidence presented in court—including Hunter’s own text messages and his documented struggles with substance abuse—made the case difficult to refute.
Hunter’s colorful and highly publicized history with drug addiction was a central element of the trial. Prosecutors highlighted texts from Hunter admitting to smoking crack and waiting for a dealer just days after the gun purchase. His defense team didn’t deny his past drug use but argued that he was in a better state of mind during the firearm transaction, citing a stint in rehab as evidence. The jury disagreed, delivering a unanimous guilty verdict after deliberating for three hours over two days.
Hunter was originally slated for sentencing in November, though it was pushed back to December before the president stepped in with his pardon. While the move has been framed as an act of justice by Biden loyalists, critics see it as yet another example of the Biden administration’s apparent immunity from accountability. The fallout is sure to reignite debates about privilege, justice, and the tangled web of family and politics at the highest levels of power. For now, Hunter walks free, but the questions surrounding his legal troubles—and his father’s role—are far from resolved.
