Biden pardons his son Hunter despite previous pledges not to

President Joe Biden has pardoned his son Hunter, sparing the younger Biden a potential prison sentence on federal felony weapons and tax convictions and reversing his previous promises not to use the presidency’s extraordinary powers to the state’s advantage.

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Huntersparing the younger Biden a possible prison sentence on federal felony gun and tax convictions and reversing his previous promises not to use the presidency’s extraordinary powers to benefit his family members.

The Democratic president had previously said he would not pardon his son or commute his sentence following his convictions in the two cases in Delaware and California. The move comes weeks before Hunter Biden was set to receive his sentence following his conviction in the gun case and guilty plea on tax charges, and less than two months before President-elect Donald Trump is set to return to the White House.

It caps a long-running legal saga involving the president’s son, who publicly announced he was under federal investigation in December 2020 — a month after Joe Biden’s 2020 victory.

In June, when his son Hunter was on trial in the Delaware gun case, Biden ruled out a pardon or clemency for his son in an interview with ABC News.

As recently as November 8, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre ruled out a pardon or clemency for the younger Biden, saying: “We’ve been asked that question several times. Our answer remains: no.”