Why Did President Joe Biden Pardon Hunter?

President Joe Biden has pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, 54, amid his illegal firearms possession and tax charge federal cases.

Biden released a statement Sunday (Dec. 1) explaining his decision to pardon Hunter.

"I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice — and once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further," the president wrote.

"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," he added.

"Without aggravating factors like use in a crime, multiple purchases, or buying a weapon as a straw purchaser, people are almost never brought to trial on felony charges solely for how they filled out a gun form. Those who were late paying their taxes because of serious addictions, but paid them back subsequently with interest and penalties, are typically given non-criminal resolutions. It is clear that Hunter was treated differently," the statement continued.

"The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election. Then, a carefully negotiated plea deal, agreed to by the Department of Justice, unraveled in the courtroom — with a number of my political opponents in Congress taking credit for bringing political pressure on the process. Had the plea deal held, it would have been a fair, reasonable resolution of Hunter’s cases," Biden wrote.

In his own statement via the Associated Press, Hunter said he does not take the pardon lightly and hopes to dedicate his life "to helping those who are still sick and suffering."

"I have admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction — mistakes that have been exploited to publicly humiliate and shame me and my family for political sport," Hunter said.

In September, Hunter offered to plead guilty to the tax charges, which alleged that he failed to pay $1.4 million in taxes, instead spending the money on drugs.