Biden’s Final Act: Pardoning Hunter Biden Sparks Outrage

In an eleventh-hour move that stunned Democrats and Republicans alike, President Joe Biden granted a full and unconditional pardon to his son Hunter Biden, wiping the slate of years of legal trouble, including convictions on tax evasion and illegally buying a firearm. This contentious decision arrives only weeks ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration and has triggered an avalanche of criticism, raising new questions about Biden’s presidency's legitimacy.

The pardon, which was announced late Sunday night, is widely regarded as a brazen abuse of presidential power — one, who as candidate and president, claimed to run and govern on the premise of ethical leadership and justice. For others, it’s a foregone conclusion that reflects Biden’s drive to protect his son and, in the process, his legacy.

Hunter Biden’s Pardon: A Political Tsunami

Hunter Biden’s legal woes have been a staple of political conversation for years. His finances, his questionable business relationships, and his history of addiction have been fodder for news coverage — and Republicans going through a litany of alleged Biden family corruption. The charges Hunter faced, for lying on a federal form when he bought a firearm and for failing to pay taxes on millions of dollars earned from foreign business ventures, were widely viewed as just the tip of the iceberg.

President Biden defended his decision to grant his son an unconditional pardon, assertively claiming that the charges were made for political purposes. “These cases were brought against me by my political enemies in Congress to hurt me and my family,” Biden said in a statement. “Hunter was targeted not based on what he did, but because of who he is — my son. That’s wrong.”

This rationalization did little to defuse the backlash. Critics said Biden’s move undermines the principles of justice and accountability — ideals he has professed to uphold over his decades in public life. Even some of Biden’s allies expressed discomfort with the decision privately, recognizing the political risk and ethical quandary surrounding the pardon.

Hunter Biden’s Troubled Past

Hunter Biden’s history has been controversial. From lucrative deals in Ukraine and China to personal woes with addiction, his life has been a lightning rod for criticism. Hunter lied on a federal background check form when he purchased a firearm in 2018, failing to disclose that he was still addicted to drugs. He subsequently acknowledged mishandling the firearm amid a time of extreme substance addiction.

And Hunter’s financial dealings have been a major point of intersection for Republican investigations. His critics contend he used his father’s position as vice president to obtain lucrative contracts with foreign companies, including an energy firm in Ukraine, Burisma. This led to questions about potential conflicts of interest, but also to allegations of influence peddling — a charge that allies of Mr. Biden have denied vehemently.

While acknowledging mistakes, Hunter has portrayed himself as the victim of political exploitation. After the pardon was announced, he issued a statement expressing gratitude but also bitterness. “I’ve taken responsibility for my actions in what was the most difficult time of my life,” he said. “But these mistakes were twisted and weaponized to humiliate me and my family for political advantage.”

Biden’s Evolving Approach to Justice

Throughout his time in office, Joe Biden has repeatedly promised not to meddle with the justice system, even as questions swirled about whether he would issue a pardon to his son. In public remarks, Biden stressed his intention to keep the Department of Justice independent, citing his predecessor Donald Trump’s alleged efforts to politicize federal investigations as a cautionary tale.

“I will never pardon Hunter,” Biden said at the G7 summit in June 2024. “The jury’s verdict will stand.” His press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, echoed that sentiment, repeatedly deflecting questions about whether clemency is a possibility. But deep within the halls of power, speculation bubbled up as Hunter’s legal woes deepened.

The abrupt turnaround, just 50 days before Biden was set to leave office, stunned many. In his statement, Biden framed the decision as one rooted in a justice system riddled by what he described as “raw politics” and resulting in what he characterized as a miscarriage of justice. “Once I made this decision, there was no reason to delay it any further,” Biden said.

What the Political World Is Saying

The response to Biden’s pardon was immediate and scathing. The president-elect, Donald Trump, who has repeatedly attacked the Biden family, called the pardon “a disgraceful abuse of power” in a social media post. “Hunter Biden was the poster child for corruption, & his father just proved they’re a family of fraudsters,” Trump wrote. He promised that his administration would investigate the Biden family’s business connections, suggesting that the pardon would not protect them from scrutiny.

Other Republicans were similarly harsh. Senator Chuck Grassley, who has been a leading critic of Biden, said he was also disappointed, describing the actions as a betrayal of public trust. “Joe Biden kept saying he wouldn’t pardon Hunter. Shame on me for trusting him,” Grassley tweeted.

Conservative commentators quickly began comparing Hunter’s pardon with Biden’s annual Thanksgiving ritual of pardoning turkeys, with some mocking the president for granting clemency this year to “three turkeys” — his son and two birds.

Trump’s Promised Investigations

President-elect Trump has said his new administration will put the Biden family on the high-end list of accountability. Trump’s pick to lead the F.B.I., Kash Patel, is already a vocal critic of the Bidens and has promised to investigate the corruption allegations involving Hunter’s business ventures.

“The American people need answers,” Patel said in an interview this week. “No one is above the law, not even a last name.” And with Trump back in the White House, the Republicans say they’re preparing for what they describe as a long overdue reckoning: to lay out what they see as years of dishonesty and self-enrichment by the Bidens.

The Broader Implications

Biden’s move to pardon his son alters the trajectory of the presidency, the justice system, and the nation’s political landscape. Critics call it a dangerous precedent that essentially gives family members of powerful politicians a free pass. They cite Hunter’s lucrative foreign contracts and apparent conflicts of interest as evidence of corruption that should have been fully investigated — not pardoned.

The president’s defenders argue that the pardon was one of compassion, noting Hunter’s recovery from addiction and his long history of being attacked. “This was about a dad who stood by his son,” said one Biden ally. “It’s easy to throw stones from outside, but families are complicated.”

The timing of the pardon — which has been granted just weeks before Biden vacates office — has nevertheless ignited speculation as to its underlying motivations. Was this an act of mercy, or a political calculation to save the Biden family legacy? For many Americans, the politics are damning.

Hunter Biden’s Future

The pardon spares Hunter Biden from federal charges and prison time. But his legal woes may not be completely behind him. Investigations into his business dealings and financial conduct by state authorities could still pose a threat. In addition, the incoming Trump administration’s renewed focus on the Biden family guarantees that Hunter’s actions will continue to receive scrutiny in the extreme.

Hunter, for his part, has promised to use his second chance to assist others struggling with addiction. “I’ve been given a gift, and I’m not going to waste it,” he said. Only time will tell if this is a new chapter of redemption or an extended pause before the inevitable.

A Lofty Choice Between Presidents

It’s impossible not to see the contrast between Biden and Trump’s approaches to justice. Biden’s move to exonerate his son reflects his preference for personal allegiance over external considerations. Trump, by contrast, has styled himself the champion of accountability, pledging to hold the powerful to the same standards as regular people.

This dynamic will likely shape the next four years. With promises to “drain the swamp,” Trump’s return to the White House presents himself as a proficient contrast to Biden’s perceived laxity and nepotism. And for Trump supporters, it’s a moment that manifests their call for strong leadership that restores integrity to Washington.

Historical Context

Presidential pardons for relatives are not new, but they are controversial. Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother, Roger Clinton, for prior drug offenses, and Donald Trump pardoned the father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner for tax violations. But critics say those cases are different from Hunter’s, which came amid ongoing legal challenges and allegations of corruption.

The decision might undermine public confidence in the presidency, warned legal experts. For one analyst, the pardon “is more than just about Hunter Biden. It’s not about Donald Trump. It’s about what precedent does this set for future presidents and their families.”

The Road Ahead

As Biden prepares to depart the White House, that decision will now have an indelible impact on his legacy. For his supporters, the pardon reflects a father’s love and as a stand against what they see as politically motivated persecution. To his critics, it is evidence of the Biden family’s corruption and hypocrisy.

President-elect Trump himself has already made it clear that his administration will make a priority of exposing the truth on the Bidens. Whether via congressional investigations, legal probes, or public discourse, the Biden family will probably be under the microscope for years.

This last-minute pardon of Hunter Biden is a defining action of Joe Biden’s presidency — an act that has sparked vigorous debate over justice, accountability, and the role of personal loyalty in politics. Some see it as an act of compassion; others, as the ultimate betrayal of Biden’s vows to uphold the rule of law. These decisions have paved the way for a new chapter under Trump’s leadership that holds a clear tonality and impact for America and beyond.

Written by Steve McNair

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