Biden Pardons Son Hunter Amid Legal Struggles
Washington – In a dramatic turn of events, President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he has pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, reversing previous statements that he would not intervene in his son’s legal troubles. Hunter Biden was facing serious charges, including three felony counts related to a 2018 gun purchase conducted while he was struggling with addiction, as well as nine tax evasion charges linked to alleged unpaid federal taxes totaling over $1.4 million.
In a statement, President Biden expressed his belief that Hunter had been "selectively and unfairly" prosecuted, suggesting that the legal actions against him were fueled by political opponents aiming to undermine the Biden administration. "No reasonable person who looks at the facts can reach any conclusion other than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son — and that is wrong," the president stated.
Having initially refrained from discussing the possibility of a pardon, President Biden’s decision follows an intense legal saga, which included Hunter Biden’s guilty plea to tax evasion and an unsuccessful plea deal regarding the gun charges. Notably, these charges were pursued by David Weiss, a special counsel appointed during the Trump administration, who continued the investigation under the Biden administration.
Responding to the pardon, Hunter Biden acknowledged his past mistakes during his battle with addiction and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to help others still suffering from similar issues. Following the presidential pardon, Hunter’s legal team has moved to dismiss pending court cases, including his upcoming sentencing hearings on tax evasion and gun charges.
This is not the first case of a presidential pardon involving a family member; past examples include actions taken by presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump. The White House previously maintained that no pardon was planned for Hunter Biden until this unexpected announcement.
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