first son Hunter Biden His father, President Joe Biden, said Sunday after apologizing that he had “taken responsibility” for his mistakes, “I and my family have been used to publicly shame and humiliate me for political sport.”
Hunter Biden, 54, was convicted in two separate federal cases earlier this year — he was first found guilty in June on three felony charges for federal gun violations and pleaded guilty in September to a separate felony tax case.
“During the darkest days of my addiction I acknowledged and took responsibility for my mistakes — mistakes that were used to publicly shame and humiliate me and my family for political sport,” Hunter Biden said in a statement to Fox News. “Despite all this, I have maintained my sobriety for more than five years because of my deep faith and the unwavering love and support of my family and friends.”
“In the vortex of addiction, I squandered many opportunities and advantages,” he continued. “If we never take for granted the mercy given to us in recovery, we may be given the opportunity to make amends where possible and rebuild our lives. I will never take for granted the forgiveness given to me today and will dedicate life. I have rebuilt to help those who are still sick and suffering.
Biden Pardons Son Hunter Before Biden Exits White House
Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, leaves the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building in Wilmington, Delaware on June 3, 2024. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
The president’s pardon for his son, announced by the White House on Sunday night, applies to crimes against the US that Hunter Biden “committed or may have committed” from January 1, 2014 to December 1, 2024.
“Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter,” Biden said in a statement. “From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere in the decision-making of the Department of Justice, and I kept my word even as I watched my son be prosecuted, selectively and unfairly.”
The Outgoing President He argued that his son was “treated differently” in his criminal cases.
“People are never prosecuted on felony charges based solely on how they filled out the gun form, without aggravating factors such as use in a crime, multiple purchases, or buying a weapon as a straw buyer,” the statement said. “People who are late paying their taxes because of serious addictions, but who later pay them back with interest and penalties, are usually given not guilty verdicts. It’s clear that Hunter was treated differently.”
President Biden said the cases against his son stemmed from opposition from Republicans and his 2020 election victory over President-elect Donald Trump.
“The charges in their cases came only after several of my political opponents in Congress incited them to attack me and oppose my election,” the president said. “Later, a carefully negotiated deal agreed to by the Justice Department was unfurled in the courtroom — a process that many of my political opponents in Congress credited with bringing political pressure to bear. If the plea deal had taken place, it would have been a fair, reasonable resolution of Hunter’s cases.”
Biden won’t pardon hunter, White House insists, but critics aren’t so sure
President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden hug on stage at the close of the first day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois on August 19, 2024. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)
“No reasonable person looking at the facts of the hunter’s cases could reach any other conclusion than that the hunter was singled out because he was my son — and that’s wrong,” he continued. “There’s an effort to break Hunter — he’s been sober for five and a half years, even in the face of relentless attacks and selective prosecution. In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me — and there’s no reason to believe it’s going to stop here.
The president additionally blamed “raw politics” for the legal actions against his son.
“I have followed a simple principle throughout my career: Tell the American people the truth,” he said. “He will be fair-minded. Here’s the truth: I believe in the justice system, but as I wrestle with it, I believe crude politics has infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice — and once I’ve made this decision this weekend, there’s no point in delaying it any further.”
He concluded: “I hope the American people understand why the father and the president came to this decision.”
A court document obtained by Fox News showed that Hunter Biden signed his name on the legal acceptance of the pardon.
President Biden’s decision to pardon his son is a departure from multiple statements he made to the media over the summer, in which he said he would not pardon the first son.
Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, attends an event celebrating the 2024 US Olympic and Paralympic teams on the South Lawn of the White House on September 30, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Celal Guns/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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In the gun case, Hunter Biden was found guilty of making a false statement in the purchase of a firearm, making a false statement regarding information required to be kept by a federally licensed gun dealer, and possession of a firearm by an individual. Illegal user or addict of a controlled substance.
Prosecutors specifically sought to prove he lied on a federal firearms form in October 2018, when he checked the “no” box when asked if he was an illegal substance user or addicted to controlled substances.
The other trial included three felony tax offenses and six misdemeanor tax offenses for failing to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes. Jury selection will begin in Los Angeles federal court, Hunter Biden Entered a guilty plea.
Trump had previously said on the campaign trail that he would consider pardoning Hunter Biden.
