US President Joe Biden has pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, who pleaded guilty to tax evasion in September and faced up to 17 years in prison. This move is a rare instance of a US president pardoning a family member.
Biden claimed that his son was “selectively and unfairly prosecuted” and that “raw politics has infected this process and led to a miscarriage of justice”.
This is not the first time a US president has pardoned a relative or close associate. Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother Roger, who had served time in prison on 1985 drug charges. Donald Trump also pardoned Charles Kushner, a fellow real estate magnate and father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner.
It’s worth noting that presidents have used their pardon powers to help close friends and political allies over the years. One notable example is Gerald Ford’s pardon of former president Richard Nixon, who faced potential prosecution over the Watergate scandal.
Source: Punch
