Days ahead of leaving office, U.S. President Joe Biden pardons his son Hunter Biden
Washington: The U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday night pardoned his son Hunter Biden for gun and tax fraud charges. The decision will save Hunter Biden from possible sentencing for these offences.
In a statement, Biden said his son was “selectively, and unfairly prosecuted”. Earlier, the President had reportedly said he would not use his presidential powers to pardon his son.
On Sunday, while issuing the pardon, Biden said, “Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter. From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted.”
“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. Those who were late paying their taxes because of serious addictions, but paid them back subsequently with interest and penalties, are typically given non-criminal resolutions. It is clear that Hunter was treated differently.”
Hunter Biden, in September, had pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges, including misdemeanour and felony charges. He had disclosed in December 2020 that he was under federal investigation for claims of tax and money laundering law violations. The President’s son was facing allegations of not paying $1.4 million in taxes.
Biden further said, “The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election.” “Then, a carefully negotiated plea deal, agreed to by the Department of Justice, unraveled in the court room – with a number of my political opponents in Congress taking credit for bringing political pressure on the process. Had the plea deal held, it would have been a fair, reasonable resolution of Hunter’s cases.”
Biden said “effort was made to break his son, who has been five and a half years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution”.
Calling the charges politically motivated, the U.S. President said Hunter Biden was targeted because of relationship with him. Expressing his faith in the justice system, Biden said “the raw politics had infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice.”
Concluding his statement, Biden said, “I hope Americans will understand…”