Today’s news / Joe Biden pardons son Hunter in tax, gun cases
Joe Biden's 54-year-old son, Hunter Biden, faced a case of tax law violation and a case of weapons law violation. On the night of Monday, President Biden says he has signed a pardon for the president's son. (Archive photo). Photo: Susan Walsh/Ritzau Scanpix

Joe Biden pardons son Hunter in tax, gun cases

President Joe Biden has pardoned his son Hunter Biden, who was facing legal actions regarding tax evasion and a weapons law violation. In a White House statement, Biden called the prosecution ‘unfair’ and labeled the cases as ‘judicial murder’. Hunter had admitted to all charges in a tax case and was found guilty in the weapons case but had denied these charges. President Biden asserted that his non-intervention pledge was maintained but saw the prosecution as selective and unjust targeting of his son. The decision to pardon was made after a family Thanksgiving dinner. Hunter had not paid $1.4 million in taxes during 2016-2019 and faced possible sentences of up to 17 years in the tax case and 25 years in the weapons case. The pardon comes as President Biden’s tenure is concluding, with Donald Trump set to be inaugurated in January.