US President Joseph Biden announced that he has pardoned his son Hunter, who was awaiting sentencing in cases of illegal possession of a firearm and tax evasion.
“No reasonable person looking at the facts of Hunter’s case can come to a conclusion other than this – Hunter has been singled out solely because he is my son, and that is wrong,” Biden said late last night, mentioning a “miscarriage of justice.”
However, the outgoing US president had repeatedly said he would not grant a presidential pardon to his son.
Hunter Biden (54) pleaded guilty in September to tax evasion in a Los Angeles court, avoiding a trial.
The former lawyer and businessman, who now paints, faced one charge of tax evasion and two charges of making false statements related to failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes over the past decade.
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The youngest son of Joseph Biden was convicted earlier this year of lying about his drug addiction when purchasing a firearm. This offense was committed in the state of Delaware, Biden’s stronghold. Hunter Biden was still waiting to learn what sentence he would receive in each of these cases.
“I said I would not interfere in the Department of Justice’s decision-making and I kept my word even when I saw my son being selectively and unfairly prosecuted,” Biden said.
“The charges in his cases only emerged after several of my political opponents in Congress encouraged them to attack me and oppose my election,” he added.
“I believe in the justice system, but I also believe that a gross form of politics has infected that process and led to a failure of justice,” said Democrat Biden, who officially ends his presidential term on January 20.”
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Source: N1, Photo: EPA/ ANDY WONG / POOL