Joe Biden's Son Pardoned?

President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, has set the political world on fire, sparking a wave of disbelief—and frustration—among some of his own party members. 

This move comes after months of the president adamantly stating, with all the confidence in the world, that such a pardon was off the table. Yet, despite those bold denials, Hunter’s legal team had been quietly hoping—and even expecting—that the day would come.

For many who’ve worked with Joe Biden in the past, this sudden turn of events feels like a betrayal of his earlier assurances. They remember how, in recent months, White House officials (including the president himself) publicly insisted there was no chance of a pardon. But as the saying goes, actions speak louder than words, and the decision to issue a pardon this past Sunday night caught even the most loyal Biden allies off guard.

The timing of the pardon is just as intriguing. It came right after a Thanksgiving weekend spent with family in Nantucket, Massachusetts—a quiet, reflective time, perhaps. But as much as it caught some by surprise, sources close to Hunter Biden’s legal team have long believed that clemency was on the horizon. 

In fact, they weren’t at all shocked by the move. According to multiple insiders, the White House had known for some time that the possibility of a pardon was very real, even if they publicly denied it until the very last moment.

The backstory here is messy, no doubt. Hunter Biden’s legal troubles have been well-documented—convicted in June for illegally purchasing and possessing a firearm while using drugs, followed by a guilty plea in September to nine federal tax charges involving over $1.4 million in unpaid taxes. During his trial, the details of Hunter’s personal life were laid bare for the world to see: addiction, indulgence, and an undeniable web of family chaos.

 His lavish lifestyle, funded by unreported income, painted a troubling picture. Yet, sources close to Hunter say the only reason he agreed to plead guilty to these charges—knowing full well he was facing up to 17 years in prison and hefty fines—was because a pardon was always on the table. However with sentencing looming in December, the pressure on Hunter—and on his father—was mounting. His legal team didn’t want him to face the humiliation and potential prison time. 

In the days leading up to the pardon, Hunter’s attorneys circulated a detailed 50-page document, which not only outlined the six-year investigation into his financial and legal missteps, but also placed some of the blame squarely on the shoulders of Donald Trump and his Republican allies, accusing them of orchestrating the entire legal saga.

Still, what’s raising eyebrows the most isn’t the pardon itself—it’s the public back-and-forth on whether it would ever happen. Biden’s sudden change of heart has left some of his most loyal supporters scratching their heads. 

Why the reversal? Why pretend the decision wasn’t inevitable? Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, who’d repeatedly told reporters that Biden would never take such an action, finally admitted that Trump’s recent election victory played a role in the shift.

Now, the question remains: How will the Democratic Party respond to this? Some are applauding Biden for his fatherly instincts, while others are left wondering why he ever insisted he wouldn’t do what seemed like the only logical thing to do. 

One thing’s for sure—this move is bound to reverberate through the political landscape for a long time. And as for Hunter Biden, his legal battles may be far from over, but for now, he’s getting the ultimate family bailout.