A Season of Peace and Light: First Lady Jill Biden Backs President Biden’s Decision to Pardon Hunter Biden
First lady Jill Biden expressed her support for President Biden’s decision to pardon her stepson, Hunter Biden, from criminal charges during a holiday press conference at the White House on Monday. The announcement was made just as the White House revealed its Christmas decorations, with this year’s theme being “A Season of Peace and Light”.
Hunter Biden is the subject of two felony cases, which were recently dropped by the White House. The pardon applies to offenses committed or that may have been committed from January 1, 2014, to December 1, 2024. The decision has been met with controversy, with some critics accusing the president of using his power to benefit a family member.
In a statement, President Biden wrote, “Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter. From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted.”
The president went on to claim that his son was “treated differently” by prosecutors. This is a departure from his previous remarks, in which he said he would not pardon Hunter ahead of his guilty verdict in a gun case.
Hunter Biden signed a legal acknowledgment of the pardon on December 1. The move has sparked widespread debate and raised questions about the use of executive power. The White House has not commented on the matter.