Biden grants ‘full and unconditional’ pardon to son Hunter: Trump harshly criticises

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The president justifies the decision by talking about ‘political persecution’. Trump and Republicans denounce an ‘abuse of power’

US President Joe Biden announced today the granting of a ‘full and unconditional’ presidential pardon for his son Hunter Biden. The latter had been convicted of illegal gun possession last June and had admitted tax offences in September to avoid a prison sentence. Biden called the charges against his son a ‘miscarriage of justice’ orchestrated by his political rivals.

‘Enough is enough’

In a press release, Biden said, ‘I have always respected the independence of the Justice Department, even when I have seen my son being selectively and unfairly prosecuted. They tried to destroy him to target me, but there is no reason to believe they will stop there. Enough is enough.

Biden also joked that the allegations against Hunter emerged after some political opponents had instigated investigations in Congress to attack him and obstruct his presidency.

Trump: ‘An abuse of power’

The decision triggered immediate political reactions. Donald Trump, President-elect of the United States after the recent election, strongly criticised the move, calling it an ‘abuse and a miscarriage of justice’. On his Truth Social platform, Trump commented: ‘Does Hunter’s pardon also include the six January hostages imprisoned for the Capitol Hill assault? This is an absolute injustice.’

Steven Cheung, future White House communications director under the Trump administration, also accused the Democrats of ‘weaponizing the justice system’ to conduct a ‘failed witch hunt’ against Trump and his supporters.

The charges against Hunter Biden

Hunter Biden had been convicted in Delaware of three gun-related offences in 2018. On that occasion he had falsely stated on the purchase form that he was not a drug user. He had also admitted nine tax offences in Los Angeles in September, facing up to 42 years in prison overall. However, under federal guidelines, Hunter could have avoided imprisonment.

Biden’s decision reignited the political debate on the role of the judiciary in the US and could mark one of the new Trump administration’s first clashes with the Democratic opposition.

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