Prosecuted in cases of illegal possession of weapons and tax evasion, the youngest son of the current American president benefited from a presidential pardon on Sunday. Joe Biden had however assured several times that he would not use this prerogative.
A decision that goes badly. US President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he had 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 in the Hunter cases can come to any conclusion other than this: Hunter was singled out solely because he is my son – and that is wrong.”said the Democrat in a press release, referring to “a miscarriage of justice”. The American leader had however assured several times that he would not grant a presidential pardon to his son. As recently as September, the White House reaffirmed this.
This decision is sure to raise new questions about the independence of the American judicial system, particularly at a time when President-elect Donald Trump has decided to appoint loyal supporters to head the FBI and the Department of Justice.
Hunter Biden, 54, pleaded guilty in September to tax fraud in a Los Angeles, California, court, avoiding a trial. This former lawyer and businessman, now converted to painting, was notably faced with one count of tax evasion and two counts of false declarations for not having paid 1.4 million dollars in taxes over the last decade. Joe Biden's youngest son has already been convicted this year of lying about his drug addiction when purchasing a weapon – a misdemeanor in the state of Delaware, the Biden stronghold. Hunter Biden was still waiting to know what sentence he would receive in each of these cases.
“I said I would not interfere with the decision-making of the Department of Justice and I kept my word even when I saw my son being selectively and unfairly prosecuted”said Joe Biden in his press release. “The accusations in these cases emerged only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election”he added. “I believe in the justice system but […] I also believe [qu’une forme] crude politics has infected this process and [que] this led to a miscarriage of justice.”
Amnesty for all those who invaded the Capitol
At the same time, criminal cases against Donald Trump have stalled since the Supreme Court issued a historic ruling on presidential immunity, likely ensuring Joe Biden's Republican rival will never serve prison time even after his conviction for falsification of accounting documents last May.
American presidents have already used pardons to help members of their family or political allies. Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother convicted of cocaine possession and Donald Trump pardoned the father of his son-in-law convicted of tax evasion, although in both cases the men had already served their prison sentences.
Donald Trump has promised to pardon all those convicted of invading the Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an attempt to prevent Congress from certifying the victory of his opponent Joe Biden. The Republican made reference to it in a message published on his Truth Social network on Sunday evening, writing: “Does Joe's pardon for Hunter include hostages [du 6 janvier]who have been imprisoned for years? What abuse and what a miscarriage of justice!”
Thorn in the foot
Hunter Biden pleaded guilty in a trial to tax fraud in September, a case in which he faced up to 17 years in prison. For the use of firearms, he faced 25 years of imprisonment. In a statement to American media, Hunter Biden claimed that he was going “dedicate life [qu’il a] rebuilt to help those who are still sick and suffering.
His lawyers argued that it was only because he was the president's son that he was brought to justice. Hunter Biden paid back taxes, as well as penalties imposed by authorities, and had already reached a deal that would have allowed him to avoid prison, but that deal was broken at the last minute. His case has long been a thorn in the side of the Biden family, particularly during this election year when Republicans have accused Joe Biden's youngest son of benefiting from excessive leniency.
