Today, I am announcing a full pardon for my son, Hunter Biden. Allow me to clarify my decision. Throughout my life, I have championed the rule of law, a principle I genuinely believe in. I previously stated that I would not intervene in the Justice Department’s case against Hunter, and I remained true to that commitment. At no point did I contact the department regarding this matter or attempt to exert any influence.
However, I also indicated that I would not grant a pardon to Hunter, but I have since reconsidered. My love for my son outweighs my devotion to my country. I acknowledge this openly, and I believe that many of you would have acted similarly if faced with the same situation.
Hunter Biden receives a full pardon, as President Biden reflects on balancing love for family and duty to the nation
Imagine your own child facing up to 25 years in prison for misrepresenting his drug addiction while purchasing a firearm or up to 17 years for tax evasion and filing a false return. While he would likely serve no more than 36 months as a first-time offender, the uncertainty remains. Would you, as a parent, have been willing to leave his future to chance?
Further complicating matters are the allegations regarding his business dealings in Ukraine, which date back to 2014. I included this period in the pardon. The reason for this is clear: my political adversaries have consistently claimed that I conspired with Hunter to protect Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company that paid him over $1 million annually to serve on its board.
Despite a four-month investigation by House Republicans that found no evidence of my involvement—either as vice president or president—these claims continue to resonate with the current GOP, which has turned “Burisma” and the “Biden Crime Family” into relentless talking points.
If Pam Bondi, Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, is confirmed, you can be sure that the Justice Department would persist in this witch hunt. During the 2020 Republican convention, Bondi echoed the accusations against Burisma, Hunter, and me. If you were in my position, would you leave your son’s fate to someone who has already predetermined his guilt? I don’t think so.
I know that my adversaries will seize this moment to demand leniency for those who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021—individuals whom Trump refers to as “hostages.” If I can use my presidential powers to pardon Hunter, why shouldn’t Trump extend the same courtesy to those insurrectionists?
The answer is simple: their actions were far more egregious. They assaulted the very heart of our government in a bid to overturn an election. Such actions cannot be equated with tax evasion or lying on a gun application. Yet, it is true that my son committed those offenses. He has pleaded guilty to tax charges and was convicted by a jury regarding the gun-related issue. I do not dispute any of these facts.
President Biden acknowledges his decision may fuel debates on presidential pardons and fairness
I will not assert that Hunter was prosecuted solely because he is my son. Doing so would mirror Trump’s unfounded claims regarding the “weaponization” of justice against him and contribute to the public’s growing cynicism about our political institutions. Instead, I will be straightforward. The thought of my son potentially facing jail time kept me awake at night.
Perhaps you would handle this differently. Maybe you would prioritize your principles over your family’s well-being and let the consequences come to play for Hunter. I admit my shortcomings. I am not perfect. One of our greatest imperfections is our inclination to sacrifice our most cherished values for those we love.
In this regard, I align with George Orwell, who offered a profound critique of Mahatma Gandhi following the latter’s assassination in 1948. Although Orwell respected Gandhi’s anti-imperialist stance, he questioned Gandhi’s dedication to “humanity” over those he loved most.
Orwell stated, “To an ordinary human being, love means nothing if it does not mean loving some people more than others. The aim of being human is that one does not seek perfection, that one is sometimes willing to commit sins for the sake of loyalty… and that one is prepared in the end to be defeated and broken up by life, which is the inevitable price of fastening one’s love upon other human individuals.”
My family has endured hardships. I lost my first wife and daughter in a car accident, and my first son to cancer. I nearly lost Hunter to addiction. My love for my children surpasses everything else, including all my deeply held beliefs.
Do you not feel the same?
