President Joe Biden recently issued a pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, in two separate cases involving federal tax and firearm charges. This decision ensures that Hunter Biden avoids jail time and clears his criminal record.
In June, Hunter Biden was convicted by a jury for illegally purchasing and possessing a gun as a drug user. The trial shed light on his struggles with drug abuse and family issues. Subsequently, in September, he pleaded guilty to nine tax offenses related to $1.4 million in unpaid taxes, which were linked to his extravagant spending habits on escorts, strippers, cars, and drugs.
The investigations and indictments against Hunter Biden were initiated by Special Counsel David Weiss, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump in 2018. Despite having the authority to intervene in the probe, President Joe Biden chose to uphold his pledge to remain uninvolved in the matter.
Hunter Biden's legal team argued that he was unfairly targeted by prosecutors influenced by political pressures from Trump and congressional Republicans. Hunter Biden, acknowledging his past mistakes due to addiction, expressed regret for the public scrutiny faced by him and his family.
If convicted, Hunter Biden could have faced a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and a substantial fine. President Biden defended the pardon by highlighting the rarity of individuals being charged with addiction-related gun offenses without additional aggravating factors. He also emphasized that individuals who rectify their tax liabilities, as Hunter did, often resolve such issues through civil enforcement rather than criminal prosecution.
This pardon echoes previous instances where outgoing presidents utilized their pardon powers to assist family members. For instance, Bill Clinton pardoned his brother, and Donald Trump pardoned the father of his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, before leaving office.
