President Joe Biden has pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, for unlawful gun possession and tax evasion charges. On Sunday, December 1, President Biden, aged 82, announced in a statement that he would be pardoning his son Hunter, aged 54.
He expressed his belief in the justice system but also shared that he felt raw politics had infected the process, leading to a miscarriage of justice. Once he made the decision that weekend, he saw no sense in delaying it further.
From the day he took office, President Biden promised not to interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and he maintained this stance even as he observed his son being selectively and “unfairly” prosecuted.
He noted that without aggravating factors like use in a crime, multiple purchases, or buying a weapon as a straw purchaser, people are almost never brought to trial on felony charges solely for how they filled out a gun form.
He added that those who were late paying their taxes due to severe addictions but paid them back with interest and penalties are typically given non-criminal resolutions. Biden emphasized that it was clear Hunter was treated differently.
According to an emailed statement Hunter reportedly sent to the Associated Press, he would not take the pardon lightly. He now hopes to dedicate his life to helping those still sick and suffering.
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He admitted and took responsibility for his mistakes during the darkest days of his addiction, acknowledging that these mistakes had been exploited to humiliate and shame him and his family for political sport.
Can Joe Biden Pardon Hunter Biden?
President Joe Biden has the authority to pardon his son, Hunter Biden. The U.S. Constitution grants the president the power to issue pardons for federal offenses, which includes the ability to pardon individuals convicted of federal crimes
Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the United States Constitution empowers the president to grant clemency, sometimes known as the Pardon Clause.
The major kinds of pardon include awarding commutation, which reduces a guilty person’s sentence but does not abolish the conviction; in contrast, a pardon completely forgives the offense and removes the legal repercussions of the conviction.
A pardon often restores civil rights and serves as a public statement of forgiveness but does not declare innocence.
What Was Hunter Biden’s Charge?
The pardon is expected to cover Hunter’s federal firearms case and nine tax counts. In his gun case, a Delaware jury convicted him guilty of three crimes linked to illegally obtaining and possessing a gun in 2018 while addicted to opioids in July.
Hunter volunteered to plead guilty in September to tax charges, alleging that he neglected to pay $1.4 million in taxes. He instead spent the money on “an extravagant lifestyle,” which included expensive hotels and automobiles, drugs, and other expenses.
Notably, Hunter was the first child of a serving president to be convicted of a crime following his conviction in the gun trial in June. Gun charges carry up to 25 years in prison and $750,000 in fines. Tax charges also carry up to 17 years in prison. Hunter was scheduled to be sentenced for the firearms case later this year.
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How Is the Public Reacting to Hunter Biden’s Pardon?
Joe Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter has enraged both sides of the American political spectrum. Republicans claim hypocrisy, and Democrats warn that it undermines efforts to rein in Donald Trump.
One social media user expressed that she would not pardon her daughter and believed that no president should pardon family members. The user further suggested that a committee should handle such decisions.
Another person, enjoying the fall sunshine on Monday, remarked that it did not sound right. Noting that Biden had said he wouldn’t pardon his son and then did. A New Yorker took a more pragmatic approach, reasoning that if people are pardoning “crackheads,” then it is okay.
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He added that he did not think anybody should be pardoned. Another individual found the situation horrible and embarrassing. However, he acknowledged that one must do what they can while still in office.
Another questioned who among us could say they would not pardon their son as president. However, they added that they felt it was a short-sighted move on Joe Biden’s part.
Another person was concerned about the impact on the incoming administration, stating that while gearing up to resist Trump and authoritarianism, the Democrats’ blatant corruption could embolden more corruption by the Republicans.
Another user said he was not surprised by Biden’s actions. The user responded cynically, calling it hypocrisy and labeling Joe Biden a typical politician.
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