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In a historic and controversial move, President Joe Biden announced Sunday that he has pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, just weeks before his scheduled sentencing on federal gun and tax charges. The decision has sparked immediate backlash from Republicans, who accuse the president of undermining justice, while some Democrats express unease about its implications.
Hunter Biden was convicted on federal gun charges and had pleaded guilty to tax evasion. He was due for sentencing later this month. In a statement, President Biden defended the pardon, calling his son a victim of “selective and unfair prosecution.”
“No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son — and that is wrong,” Biden said.
The announcement ignited swift condemnation from Republicans. Former President Donald Trump, on Truth Social, sarcastically suggested the pardon should extend to January 6 defendants, asking, “Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages?”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) accused Biden of hypocrisy, referencing the FBI’s raid of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. “Joe Biden is a liar and a hypocrite, all the way to the end,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) expressed shock. “I’m shocked Pres Biden pardoned his son Hunter bc he said many many times he wouldn’t & I believed him. Shame on me,” he wrote.
Democratic reactions were mixed. Colorado Governor Jared Polis acknowledged Biden’s paternal instincts but warned of the dangerous precedent. “While as a father I understand… this will sadly tarnish his reputation,” Polis tweeted.
However, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) defended the pardon, citing the legal principle of selective prosecution. “If a person is targeted for political reasons, the power of mercy should be exercised,” Raskin said on CNN.
The pardon underscores Biden’s belief that the charges against his son were politically motivated. But for many, it raises critical questions about the limits of presidential power and its impact on public trust in the justice system.
With congressional oversight committees already scrutinizing Hunter Biden, the pardon is set to intensify political battles heading into an election year.
