Biden pardons son Hunter, says cases are a 'miscarriage of justice'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
2 Dec 2024 06:05
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Going back on his word, Joe Biden has pardoned his son, who is facing two criminal trials.

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United States President Joe Biden walks with his son Hunter Biden toward Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, the United States, on July 26, 2024. (AP)

United States President Joe Biden issued an official pardon for his son Hunter Biden, who is facing sentencing for two criminal cases, on Sunday.

Hunter was being tried for cases related to tax evasion and the purchase of a firearm. However, his father said, "No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter's cases can reach any other collision than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son."

The US president also said that the situation is "a miscarriage of justice."

Hunter was convicted earlier this year of lying about his drug use when he bought a gun, which is a felony, and has also pleaded guilty in a separate tax evasion trial.

Joe Biden broke his promise of not intervening in his son's legal cases, the most recent of which he made in September when he said that he would not issue a pardon for Hunter.

Justifying his decision, Biden said that he kept his word of not interfering with the US Justice Department's decision-making, despite watching his son "being selectively and unfairly prosecuted."

"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," he claimed.

"I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice," Joe Biden said.

Trump calls Biden's decision an 'abuse'

Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump said that Joe Biden's pardon in itself was "an abuse and a miscarriage of Justice."

"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 posted on Truth Social, referring to rioters who stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Trump has also been faced with legal troubles, however, favorable decisions and his reelection aided him.

Earlier, a federal judge dismissed the charges against Trump related to election obstruction on Monday, bringing an end to a significant investigation that never reached trial.

The decision followed a motion by Special Counsel Jack Smith, who argued that Justice Department policy prevents the prosecution of a sitting president.

Smith had sought to have the case dropped, citing legal guidelines that prohibited moving forward with the charges while Trump was in office. US District Judge Tanya Chutkan agreed to dismiss the case without prejudice, leaving open the possibility of future prosecution after Trump leaves office.

Trump, who had been accused of attempting to block Joe Biden's 2020 election victory, responded on social media, calling the charges "empty and lawless" and asserting they should "never have been brought."