President Joe Biden promised the American people for years that he would not pardon his son Hunter despite his legal battle.
But after he went back on his word Sunday night, multiple reports emerged detailing how Biden considered a pardon for months following Hunter’s conviction in a federal gun case over the summer.
Hunter also pleaded guilty in September to nine charges of tax crimes in California. He faced a maximum prison sentence of 17 years and a fine of $1.35 million.
Although Biden is reported to have made the decision on Saturday, it was two people with direct knowledge of the discussions told NBC News that the president was already discussing pardons with close aides when Hunter’s conviction for gun crimes was handed down on June 11, 2024.
They said a decision had been made that Biden would publicly declare he would not pardon his 54-year-old son, even though he was still considering the option privately.
Others conclude with Biden told Axios That lobbying within the family, combined with the president’s guilt over his son’s prosecution, led them to believe he would change his mind about pardoning.
“Once it became clear that the Justice Department was committed to serving prison time, it always ended up this way,” one person close to Biden claimed.
Biden said in his statement on the pardon that he was “struggling” with the decision, but sources told CNN that he began telling staff about the pardon on Saturday night — the same night he attended Mass with his family, including Hunter, on Nantucket.
Biden and his spokespeople, including White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, have said for years — before and after the conviction — that the president would not forgive Hunter.
President Joe Biden announced Sunday evening at the end of his Thanksgiving break that he is pardoning his son Hunter Biden, 54, of his three felony charges. Pictured: Hunter Biden, son Beau Biden, wife Melissa Cohen Biden and President Biden have lunch at the Brotherhood of Thieves restaurant on Nantucket Island on November 29
Biden (photo on Nantucket, November 29) vowed for years – before and after the June conviction – that he would not pardon his son
Jean-Pierre declined to tell reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday whether Biden had discussed the pardon with Hunter during their Thanksgiving together on the posh New England island off the coast of Massachusetts.
The president’s son was convicted in June of three federal crimes for lying about his drug use on a firearm purchase form.
At least twice that month, Biden said he would not pardon his eldest son.
During an ABC News interview on June 6, host David Muir asked Biden, “Have you ruled out a pardon for your son?”
“Yes,” the president replied.
On June 11, shortly after Hunter was found guilty, Biden released a statement.
“As I said last week, I am the president, but I am also a father. “I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today,” he wrote. “As I said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and continue to respect the legal process as Hunter considers an appeal.”
But on Sunday evening, Biden broke his promise.
Reporters shouted at President Biden as he boarded Air Force One early Monday morning for a trip to Africa, asking him “what changed” from then to now. Biden ignored the questions.
President Biden hugs son Hunter on June 11, 2024 after the 54-year-old was convicted of three federal crimes for lying about his drug use on a form to purchase a firearm
Hunter Biden arrives for Mass at Our Lady of the Isle Catholic Church in Nantucket on Saturday
First Lady Jill Biden and daughter Ashley take an afternoon stroll and pick up some shells along a private beach next to the home on Nantucket where the Bidens are spending their Thanksgiving holiday
Hunter’s sentencing was handed down on June 11 and sentencing was initially scheduled for November 13. On September 19, a judge granted a request from Hunter’s team to delay sentencing until December 4.
There is now no need for a sentencing in two days since Hunter Biden received a presidential pardon from his father.
On July 26, Biden’s top spokesman said he was not considering a pardon and would not commute his sentence.
“It’s still, it’s still a no. It’s still a no,” Jean-Pierre said at a White House briefing in late July.
A reporter continued, “It will always be a no?”
“It’s still a no. It will be a no. It’s a no,” she repeated. “And I have nothing else to add.”
‘Will he forgive his son? No,’ Jean-Pierre was adamant.
In an unrelated case involving allegations that Hunter withheld $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019, Hunter Biden changed his plea to guilty in September.
This led to more questions about possible pardons.
Jean-Pierre said on September 5 that “it’s still a no” when asked about Biden’s calculation on forgiving Hunter.
With the announcement this weekend, Donald Trump is now suggesting he will take steps to pardon all those imprisoned, convicted or prosecuted in connection with the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
The president-elect indicated on Sunday evening that he plans to use Biden’s pardon to his own advantage.
“Does Joe’s pardon to Hunter include the J-6 hostages, who have been held captive for years now? What an abuse and miscarriage of justice!’ Trump wrote in his first public comments since Biden announced the pardon.
Trump repeatedly raised the idea of the pardon during his campaign. And his new choice to lead the FBI, Kash Patel, has taken over the case of the January 6 defendants.