Biden pardons son Hunter Biden ahead of exit from Oval Office
SUMMARY
President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, on December 1, 2024, covering offenses committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024. The pardon follows Hunter's convictions in two federal cases earlier this year. Hunter had been found guilty of three firearm felonies in June and later pleaded guilty to nine tax charges. Despite previously stating he would not intervene, Biden attempted to justify the pardon as an act of compassion for his son's recovery from addiction and what he termed "selective prosecution." Hunter, 54, expressed gratitude and vowed to aid others battling addiction. The charges included falsifying a federal firearm form, tax offenses, and drug use allegations tied to his past addiction. Critics noted Biden's reversal of his earlier stance, while the pardon came amidst broader political and legal tensions, including President-elect Donald Trump's controversial remarks about potentially pardoning Hunter himself.
