Biden pardons son Hunter in tax fraud, illegal gun possession cases

Photo: Mandel Ngan Agence France-Presse Hunter Biden in Washington, D.C., in July 2024

Agence France-Presse in Washington

Published yesterday at 19:59 Updated yesterday at 21:44

• United States

US President Joe Biden finally went back on his word by pardoning his son Hunter on Sunday, a few weeks before he leaves the White House. Hunter was awaiting sentence in cases of illegal firearm possession and tax fraud.

“No reasonable person reviewing the facts in the Hunter cases can conclude otherwise than this: Hunter was singled out solely because he is my son — and that is wrong,” the 82-year-old Democrat said in a statement, calling it “a miscarriage of justice.”

The American leader had repeatedly said he would not grant his son a presidential pardon. The White House reaffirmed this in September.

The decision is sure to raise new questions about the independence of the American judicial system, particularly as President-elect Donald Trump has decided to appoint loyal supporters to lead the FBI and the Justice Department.

Hunter Biden, 54, pleaded guilty in September to tax evasion in a Los Angeles, California, court, avoiding trial.

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

Joe Biden’s youngest son was also convicted earlier this year of lying about his drug addiction when buying a gun — a felony in the Biden home state of Delaware.

The former lawyer and businessman, now a painter, was still waiting to learn what sentence he would receive in each of those cases.

“I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I watched my son be selectively and unfairly prosecuted,” Biden said in his press release.

“The charges in his cases emerged only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election,” he added.

“I believe in the judicial system but […] I also believe [that] a gross form of politics has infected this process and [that] has led to a miscarriage of justice. »

At the same time, criminal cases against Donald Trump have stalled since the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling on presidential immunity, likely ensuring that Joe Biden’s Republican rival will never serve a prison sentence, even after his conviction for falsifying accounting records last May.

Thorn in the Side

US presidents have used clemency before to help family members or political allies.

Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother convicted of cocaine possession, and Donald Trump pardoned his son-in-law’s father convicted of tax evasion, even though both men had already served their prison sentences.

Hunter Biden pleaded guilty in a tax evasion trial in September, a case that carried a possible 17 years in prison. For the firearms charge, he faced up to 25 years in prison.

In a statement to US media, Hunter Biden said he would “dedicate the life [he has] rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering.”

His lawyers argued that it was only because he was the president’s son that he was being prosecuted.

Hunter Biden has paid back taxes, as well as penalties imposed by the authorities, and had already reached a deal that would have allowed him to avoid prison, but that deal was broken at the last minute.

His case has long been a thorn in the side of the Biden family, particularly in an election year when Republicans have accused Joe Biden’s youngest son of being overly lenient.