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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
David Smith in Washington

With his pardon of son Hunter, Joe Biden delivers a heartfelt hypocrisy

Biden, wearing a suit, smiles and puts a hand on shoulder of his son Hunter, also wearing a suit
Joe Biden greets his son Hunter at the Democratic national convention in Chicago on 19 August. The president on Sunday issued a ‘full and unconditional’ pardon for his son covering federal gun and tax charges. Photograph: Craig Hudson/Reuters

A loving act of mercy by a father who has already known much sorrow? Or a hypocritical political manoeuvre reminiscent of his great foe? Maybe both can be true.

Joe Biden’s announcement on Sunday that he had pardoned his son Hunter, who is facing sentencing in two criminal cases, is likely to have been the product of a Shakespearean struggle between head and heart.

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