White House defends Biden’s pardon of his son, Hunter, who has tax and gun cases against him
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Hunter Biden had pleaded guilty in September to federal tax charges in federal court in Los Angeles and was due to be sentenced on Dec 16.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
WASHINGTON – The White House on Dec 2 defended US President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter, and said the US President believed his political opponents would have kept persecuting his son.
“They would continue to go after his son,” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Air Force One during a trip to Angola.
Ms Jean-Pierre said this was not the first time a president had pardoned a family member.
Mr Joe Biden said in June that he would not pardon his son. In an interview with ABC News, he replied “yes” when asked if he would rule out pardoning Hunter Biden.
Ms Jean-Pierre declined to give details on why or how Mr Joe Biden had changed his mind.
Hunter Biden pleaded guilty in September to federal tax charges in federal court in Los Angeles and was due to be sentenced on Dec 16 under Mr Mark Scarsi, a judge nominated by Republican President-elect Donald Trump.
A jury found him guilty in June of making false statements on a gun background check; he was due to be sentenced for those charges in December as well.
Mr Joe Biden said on Dec 1 that his son had been selectively prosecuted and treated differently from others with similar situations.
Late on Dec 1, Hunter Biden’s attorney filed to dismiss the indictments against him.
The US President’s full and unconditional pardon “requires dismissal of the indictment against” Hunter Biden, the lawyer wrote in filings related to criminal tax and gun cases against him. REUTERS
