President Joe Biden promised the American people for years that he would not move to pardon his son Hunter despite his legal battles.
However, breaking his promise on Sunday evening, several reports surfaced revealing Biden’s contemplation of granting a pardon months after Hunter’s federal gun case conviction during the summer.
Hunter had also admitted guilt to nine felony tax offenses in California in September, facing a potential sentence of 17 years in jail and fines totaling $1.35 million.
Although sources indicate that Biden finalized his decision on Saturday, insiders disclosed to NBC News that discussions about a pardon had begun with the president and his close advisors as early as June 11, 2024, when Hunter was convicted of gun crimes.
They said a decision was made for Biden to publicly state he would not pardon his 54-year-old son even though he still privately weighed the option.Â
Others close with Biden told Axios that internal family lobbying combined with the president’s own feelings of guilt over prosecution of his son made them believe he would change his mind about a pardon.
‘Once it became clear that the Justice Department was dead set on jail time, this was always how it was ending,’ a person in the Biden orbit claimed.
Biden said in his statement on the pardon that he ‘wrestled’ with the decision, but sources told CNN he began telling staff about the pardon on Saturday evening – the same night he attended mass with his family, including Hunter, on Nantucket.Â
Biden and his spokespeople, including White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, have said for years – before and after the conviction – that the president would not pardon Hunter.
President Joe Biden announced on the tail-end of his Thanksgiving vacation on Sunday evening that he is pardoning his son Hunter Biden, 54, for his three felony charges. Pictured: Hunter Biden, son Beau Biden, wife Melissa Cohen Biden and President Biden grab lunch at the Brotherhood of Thieves restaurant on Nantucket island on November 29
Biden (pictured on Nantucket November 29) vowed for years – before and after the June conviction – that he would not pardon his son
Jean-Pierre refused to tell reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday whether Biden discussed the pardon with Hunter during their Thanksgiving together on the ritzy New England island off the coast of Massachusetts.Â
The president’s son was convicted in June of three federal felonies for lying about his drug use on a form to purchase a firearm.Â
At least twice that month, Biden said he would not issue a pardon for his eldest son.
During an ABC News interview on June 6, host David Muir asked Biden: ‘Have you ruled out a pardon for your son?’
‘Yes,’ the president replied.
Then on June 11, shortly after Hunter was found guilty, Biden released a statement.
‘As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad. I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today,’ he wrote. ‘As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.’
But on Sunday night, Biden broke his promise.
Reporters shouted at President Biden as he boarded Air Force One early Monday morning for a trip to Africa, asking him ‘what changed’ from then until now. Biden ignored the inquiries.
President Biden hugs son Hunter on June 11, 2024 after the 54-year-old was convicted on three federal felony counts for lying about his drug use on a form to purchase a firearm
Hunter Biden arrives for mass on Saturday at Our Lady of the Isle Catholic Church on Nantucket
First Lady Jill Biden and daughter Ashley take an afternoon walk and pick up some seashells along a private beach attached to the home on Nantucket where the Bidens spend their Thanksgiving holidays
Hunter’s conviction was handed down on June 11 and sentencing was initially scheduled for November 13. On September 19, a judge granted a request from Hunter’s team to delay sentencing until December 4.
There is now no longer a need for sentencing in two days since Hunter Biden has a presidential pardon from his father.
On July 26, Biden’s main spokesperson said he was not considering a pardon and would not commute his sentence.
‘It’s still, it’s still a no. It’s still a no,’ Jean-Pierre said during a briefing at the White House in late July.
A reporter followed-up with: ‘It will always be a no?’
‘It’s still a no. It will be a no. It, it is a no,’ she reiterated. ‘And I don’t have anything else to add.’
‘Will he pardon his son? No,’ Jean-Pierre was adamant.
In an unrelated case regarding accusations Hunter withheld $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019, Hunter Biden changed his plea to guilty in September.
This led to more questions about possible pardons.
Jean-Pierre said on September 5 that ‘it’s still a no’ when asked about Biden’s calculus on pardoning Hunter.
With the announcement over the weekend, Donald Trump is now suggesting he will move to pardon all those jailed, convicted or prosecuted in relation to the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
The president-elect signaled Sunday night he intends to use Biden ‘s pardon to his own advantage.
‘Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!’ Trump wrote in his first public comment since Biden announced the pardon.
Trump repeatedly floated the idea of the pardons himself during his campaign. And his new choice to lead the FBI , Kash Patel, has taken up the cause of January 6 defendants.
