President Joe Biden announced Sunday that he pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, reversing earlier public statements where both he and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had denied any intention to issue a pardon. Biden justified the decision by claiming Hunter was targeted because of his relationship to the president, labeling the prosecution as politically motivated.
- Biden argued Hunter was “singled out” and accused political opponents of attempting to harm both him and his son.
- White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had repeatedly stated that a pardon for Hunter would not be issued, including as recently as July 2023.
- Biden explicitly ruled out a pardon in multiple interviews, including with ABC News and during a press event in June.
- Hunter Biden faced legal challenges, including federal gun and tax charges, with a collapsed plea bargain scrutinized in July 2023.
- Critics have pointed to Biden’s reversal as undermining earlier commitments to abide by legal outcomes, drawing significant political backlash.
Here Are Times Biden, KJP Promised President Wouldn’t Pardon Hunter Before Breaking His Word
President Joe Biden and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on several occasions that Biden would not issue a pardon for his son, Hunter, prior to announcing that he had reversed his position on Sunday.
Biden said in a statement released Sunday that he issued the pardon because Hunter had been “singled out” due to being the president’s son, alleging that “political opponents” were seeking to “break” both him and his son. Prior to the statement, Biden and Jean-Pierre repeatedly said no pardon would be granted to Hunter Biden.
“No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son – and that is wrong,” Biden said in the statement. “There has been an effort to break Hunter – who has been five and a half years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution. In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me – and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here.”
Biden and Jean-Pierre previously denied that Hunter Biden would be pardoned on several occasions, including a one-word response by Jean-Pierre during a July 27, 2023, press briefing.
“No,” Jean-Pierre said when asked if Biden was open to issuing a pardon after a plea bargain collapsed when United States District Judge Maryellen Noreika questioned the arrangement during a July 26, 2023, hearing.
Jean-Pierre repeated the denial on at least three other occasions, according to a supercut posted on X Sunday night. Another video posted on X showed Jean-Pierre denying that Biden would ask President-elect Donald Trump to pardon Hunter Biden in November.
Biden also said he would not pardon his son on several occasions, including at least two instances in June, including an interview with ABC News anchor David Muir while in France and when answering questions from reporters on June 13.
“Yes,” Biden said when Muir asked if he had ruled out pardoning his son.
“I said I’d abide by the jury decision, and I will do that. And I will not pardon him,” Biden said during a joint press appearance with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after a jury in Delaware convicted Hunter Biden on three charges in connection with the purchase of a Colt .38-caliber revolver. The president’s son entered a guilty plea on federal tax charges in September. (RELATED: ‘Legal Death Wish’: Jonathan Turley Says Hunter Biden Likely Headed To Jail)
WATCH:
President Biden says he will not pardon his son Hunter and will “abide by the jury’s decision” after Hunter was convicted this week of federal gun charges.
“I’m extremely proud of my son, Hunter. He has overcome an addiction. He’s one of the brightest, most decent men I know.” pic.twitter.com/wtS6U5R7ao
— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 13, 2024
White House spokesman Andrew Bates also denied Biden had changed his mind during a Nov. 26 press gaggle.
Trump said during an Oct. 24 interview with Hugh Hewitt that he was open to pardoning Hunter Biden.
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