Joe Biden Pardons Son Hunter Biden In 2 Criminal Cases (X image @GroypGangAF)
Washington DC: U.S. President Joe Biden said he had pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of making false statements on a gun background check and illegally possessing a firearm and pled guilty to federal tax charges. Earlier, the White House had repeatedly said that Biden would not pardon or commute the sentence for his son. He said his enemies sought to break his son with selective prosecution.
“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”, said the President in a statement released by the White House.
Hunter Biden, a recovering drug addict has became a target of Republicans, including President-elect Donald Trump. “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”, said Biden.
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Hunter faced sentencing for the false statements and gun convictions. In September, he pled guilty to federal charges of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes while spending lavishly on drugs, sex workers and luxury items. He faced sentencing in that case on December 16.
“I have admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction, mistakes that have been exploited to publicly humiliate and shame me and my family for political sport”, Hunter Biden said in a statement on Sunday. He added that he had remained sober for more than five years.
“In the throes of addiction, I squandered many opportunities and advantages … I will never take the clemency I have been given today for granted and will devote the life I have rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering”.
Also Read: Joe Biden’s Son Hunter Indicted On Gun Charges, First For A US President’s Son
He said people were almost never brought to trial for felony charges over how they filled out a gun form, and said others who were late in paying taxes because of addiction but paid them back with interest and penalties as his son had typically received “non-criminal resolutions” to their cases, reported Reuters.
“It is clear that Hunter was treated differently. 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,” Biden said. “In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me – and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough”.
