Presidential pardon: what does it mean and why did Biden pardon his son?
2 december 2024 в 19:13
Presidential pardon has become a complex issue in recent years. Although pardoning often sparks controversy, any US president has the constitutional right to pardon an individual facing criminal charges. After Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden, many are wondering what this means and why the president chose this path after repeatedly stating he would not do so.
Learn more about government pardons and the situation with Hunter Biden below.
A federal pardon is a power granted to the President of the United States by the Constitution. The president’s power to pardon allows him or her to pardon all federal criminal offenses, except those related to impeachment.
According to the US Department of Justice, any individual who has been granted a pardon will not automatically be removed from their criminal record. «Instead, both the federal conviction and the pardon will be reflected in your record», - the DOJ website states. «However, a pardon will facilitate the removal of legal restrictions imposed due to the conviction and should to some extent reduce the stigma arising from the conviction. In addition, a pardon may be helpful for obtaining licenses, insurance, or employment».
Yes, President Biden pardoned his son on December 1, 2024, shortly before Hunter’s scheduled sentencing. According to the Associated Press, Joe explained why he pardoned Hunter after many years of stating he would not do so.
«Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter. From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere in Justice Department decisions, and I kept my word, even as I watched my son being selectively and unfairly pursued», - the president noted. «People are almost never prosecuted for criminal charges solely for how they filled out a gun form, absent aggravating circumstances such as using the gun in a crime, multiple purchases, or buying a gun on behalf of someone else. Those who paid taxes late due to serious dependencies but later paid them back with interest and penalties usually receive non-criminal resolutions. Obviously, Hunter was treated differently».
President Biden stated that there was an «attempt to break Hunter — who has been sober for five and a half years, despite relentless attacks and selective prosecution».
«Trying to break Hunter, they were trying to break me — and there is no reason to believe this will stop here. Enough», - Joe added before concluding: «Throughout my career, I have adhered to a simple principle: just tell the American people the truth. They will be fair. Here’s the truth: I believe in justice, but as I reflect on this, I also believe that rough politics infected this process and led to a judicial error — and after making this decision over the weekend, there was no point in delaying it further. I hope Americans understand why a father and president came to this decision».
Hunter was found guilty in several criminal cases related to weapons and taxes. In his tax case, Hunter was found to have not paid over $ 1 million in taxes for the years 2016 to 2019. According to the DOJ, he was charged with tax evasion and withholding from his company’s payroll, spending millions on luxury items instead of paying taxes, failing to pay taxes for 2016 to 2019 on time, filing tax returns for 2017 and 2018 late, and claiming false tax deductions to reduce his tax liability, which he faced since early 2020. Hunter pleaded guilty to all nine charges in mid-2024.
As for the weapons case, Hunter was found guilty of three criminal charges related to purchasing a revolver in 2018. The jury found him guilty of lying to the gun dealer in a statement, claiming he did not use drugs
Learn more about government pardons and the situation with Hunter Biden below.
A federal pardon is a power granted to the President of the United States by the Constitution. The president’s power to pardon allows him or her to pardon all federal criminal offenses, except those related to impeachment.
According to the US Department of Justice, any individual who has been granted a pardon will not automatically be removed from their criminal record. «Instead, both the federal conviction and the pardon will be reflected in your record», - the DOJ website states. «However, a pardon will facilitate the removal of legal restrictions imposed due to the conviction and should to some extent reduce the stigma arising from the conviction. In addition, a pardon may be helpful for obtaining licenses, insurance, or employment».
Yes, President Biden pardoned his son on December 1, 2024, shortly before Hunter’s scheduled sentencing. According to the Associated Press, Joe explained why he pardoned Hunter after many years of stating he would not do so.
«Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter. From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere in Justice Department decisions, and I kept my word, even as I watched my son being selectively and unfairly pursued», - the president noted. «People are almost never prosecuted for criminal charges solely for how they filled out a gun form, absent aggravating circumstances such as using the gun in a crime, multiple purchases, or buying a gun on behalf of someone else. Those who paid taxes late due to serious dependencies but later paid them back with interest and penalties usually receive non-criminal resolutions. Obviously, Hunter was treated differently».
President Biden stated that there was an «attempt to break Hunter — who has been sober for five and a half years, despite relentless attacks and selective prosecution».
«Trying to break Hunter, they were trying to break me — and there is no reason to believe this will stop here. Enough», - Joe added before concluding: «Throughout my career, I have adhered to a simple principle: just tell the American people the truth. They will be fair. Here’s the truth: I believe in justice, but as I reflect on this, I also believe that rough politics infected this process and led to a judicial error — and after making this decision over the weekend, there was no point in delaying it further. I hope Americans understand why a father and president came to this decision».
Hunter was found guilty in several criminal cases related to weapons and taxes. In his tax case, Hunter was found to have not paid over $ 1 million in taxes for the years 2016 to 2019. According to the DOJ, he was charged with tax evasion and withholding from his company’s payroll, spending millions on luxury items instead of paying taxes, failing to pay taxes for 2016 to 2019 on time, filing tax returns for 2017 and 2018 late, and claiming false tax deductions to reduce his tax liability, which he faced since early 2020. Hunter pleaded guilty to all nine charges in mid-2024.
As for the weapons case, Hunter was found guilty of three criminal charges related to purchasing a revolver in 2018. The jury found him guilty of lying to the gun dealer in a statement, claiming he did not use drugs
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