First Son Hunter Biden said Sunday that he has “taken responsibility” for his mistakes, which have been “exploited to publicly humiliate and shame me and my family for political sport.” He was convicted in two separate federal cases earlier this year, including three felony charges for federal gun violations and a felony tax case.
In a statement to Fox News, Hunter Biden acknowledged that he had made mistakes during the “darkest days of my addiction” and had “squandered many opportunities and advantages.” He added that he has maintained his sobriety for more than five years and will devote his life to helping those who are still struggling with addiction.
President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter on Sunday, saying that he believes his son was “treated differently” in his criminal cases and that the charges against him were a result of “raw politics.” The president claimed that his son was singled out because of his political opposition and that the prosecutions were a “miscarriage of justice.”
Hunter Biden’s pardon applies to offenses against the U.S. that he has committed or may have committed from January 1, 2014, to December 1, 2024. The president’s decision to pardon his son comes after he previously stated that he would not pardon Hunter Biden.
Hunter Biden was found guilty of making a false statement in the purchase of a gun, making a false statement related to information required to be kept by a federally licensed gun dealer, and possession of a gun by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance. He also pleaded guilty to three felony tax offenses and six misdemeanor tax offenses over the failure to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes.
In his statement, President Biden said that he believes no reasonable person can conclude that his son was not singled out because of his political opposition and that the pardon is a way to “break” the cycle of attacks on his son.