Biden pardons his son despite previous pledges not to.
According to Al Jazeera, US President Joe Biden is spending his last days in the White House and is due to officially hand over power to Donald Trump on January 20. Therefore, he is making the most of his position.
Accordingly, Biden issued a statement announcing that he had pardoned his son Hunter, who had previously become the focus of Republican attacks on him.
The statement reads: Today, I pardoned my son Hunter. Since taking office, I have stated that I will not interfere in the affairs of the Department of Justice, even when I have witnessed false accusations against my son Hunter.
The statement adds: Any reasonable person who looks at Hunter’s case will find that he is the target of attacks simply because he is my son. We hope the American people understand why a father who is also the president would decide to pardon his son.
Hunter Biden faces a wide range of charges, from corruption and bribery in Ukraine to illegal arms and drug trafficking, which could see him sentenced to between five and 25 years in prison.
The US Constitution allows the president to pardon criminals under certain conditions. Traditionally, presidents exercise this power in their final days in office.