Biden Grants Son Unconditional Pardon: Here’s What It Means

President Joe Biden announced on December 1, 2024, that he had signed a full and unconditional pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, just weeks before leaving office. This executive clemency comes after a tumultuous period of legal battles for Hunter, who faced sentencing for gun and tax-related convictions.

A copy of the pardon, seen by Neusroom, reads in part:

“Be It Known, That This Day, I, Joseph R. Biden, Jr., President of the United States, Pursuant to My Powers Under Article II, Section 2, Clause 1, of the Constitution, Have Granted Unto ROBERT HUNTER BIDEN A Full and Unconditional Pardon.”

This decision, grounded in the U.S. Constitution, effectively shields Hunter Biden from any federal prosecution for crimes committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024. With President-elect Donald Trump set to take office on January 20, 2025, the pardon is irrevocable and marks the end of Hunter’s legal battles.

What is a Presidential Pardon, and Why Trump Can’t Overturn It?

Under Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, the president has the exclusive power to grant pardons for federal offenses. This authority is absolute, requiring no approval from Congress or the judiciary, and once issued, it cannot be revoked by a successor.

Presidential pardons by US Presidents are not new. Donald Trump, during his first term in office, pardoned Joe Arpaio, a former Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, for criminal contempt of court, a misdemeanor. The former President issued a total of 237 pardons.

Of the 45 presidents who have governed the United States, only two—William Henry Harrison, whose presidency was the shortest in U.S. history, and James A. Garfield, who was assassinated after just five months in office—never issued a presidential pardon.

Joe Biden’s decision guarantees that Hunter Biden’s pending sentencing hearings—previously scheduled for December 12 (gun charge) and December 16 (tax case)—will no longer proceed. The pardon covers all potential federal offenses during the specified period, ensuring Hunter Biden’s complete immunity from future prosecution on these matters.

Who is Hunter Biden, and What Were the Charges?

Hunter Biden, the president’s second son, is a lawyer and former board member of the Ukrainian gas company Burisma. His legal troubles began in 2018, following investigations into his foreign business dealings and financial conduct.

In June 2024, he was convicted of illegally purchasing and possessing a firearm while battling drug addiction. He later pleaded guilty in September to tax evasion charges, admitting he failed to pay $1.4 million in taxes. Prosecutors alleged lavish spending on escorts, luxury items, and substance abuse during this period.

Biden’s Reasons for the Pardon: A Father’s Conviction

President Biden, who had long vowed not to interfere with the Justice Department’s handling of his son’s case, said his decision was driven by a belief that Hunter was “selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted.”

In his statement, Biden asserted: “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. … It is clear that Hunter was treated differently.”

The president pointed to political motives behind the charges, adding: “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.”

He also expressed the emotional toll of watching his son endure public scrutiny, stating: “In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me – and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough.”

In response, President-elect Trump called the pardon an abuse.

“Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, a social media platform he founded in 2021.

What This Means for Hunter Biden

Hunter Biden’s pardon erases all federal crimes he committed or may have committed between 2014 and December 2024, including those tied to his time at Burisma. The clemency declaration states: “…including but not limited to all offenses charged or prosecuted (including any that have resulted in convictions) by Special Counsel David C. Weiss.”

In response, Hunter Biden formally accepted the pardon and expressed gratitude in a sworn affidavit. He stated: “I will never take the clemency I have been given today for granted and will devote the life I have rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering.”

Joe Biden’s decision to pardon Hunter reflects both personal conviction and political calculation. While critics see it as a reversal of his earlier pledge, the president framed it as a response to “raw politics” that “infected the process.”