The decision, which was first reported by NBC News, is a reversal for the president, who repeatedly said he would not use his authority to pardon his son or commute his sentence.

Summary

President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden, reversing his prior stance against using executive clemency.

The pardon covers Hunter’s federal gun conviction and tax evasion guilty plea, sparking political controversy.

Biden cited political attacks and a “miscarriage of justice” as reasons for his decision, emphasizing his son’s recovery from addiction and the targeting of his family.

Critics argue the move undermines the judicial process, while supporters view it as within Biden’s constitutional powers.

This decision shields Hunter from potential prison time as Biden nears the end of his presidency.

  • Maggoty@lemmy.world
    2·
    24 hours ago

    The pardon train is just getting moving. They’ve likely had a team taking applications and looking for cases for at least a few weeks now. December and January are generally when that bears fruit.

        • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
          11·
          18 hours ago

          I mean, I don’t give a fuck about somebody smoking crack and buying a gun, but Hunter Biden is in no way a political prisoner or a dissident. If anything he belongs in prison for his corruption along with probably every other high ranking politician and their children.

          • Maggoty@lemmy.world
            11·
            15 hours ago

            Oh, I forgot everyone is corrupt, so any charges are automatically justified. Yeah that’s not something a dictator would say at all…

            • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
              11·
              6 hours ago

              Crackhead with a plum job on the board of a foreign energy company? Nothing to see here!

              • Maggoty@lemmy.world
                11·
                1 hour ago

                Don’t go to Wall Street then. That’s not evidence of anything but being connected to wealthy people.

                • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
                  1·
                  47 minutes ago

                  Do I look like a judge or something? I don’t need require evidence to have an opinion about the impropriety of the crack head failson of a top US politician being given a well-paid, do-nothing position on the board of an energy company. Do you require evidence to think it’s shady that the Saudis bailed out Jared Kushner’s NY real estate investment?

                  Back to the point: Hunter is not a “dissident”. I don’t really care though-- I’d pardon my son too. But you know what else I’d do? Pardon a bunch of people who actually deserve it.