White House defends Hunter Biden's pardon amid criticism

The White House defended President Joe Biden's decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, on Monday, amid increasing criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, Reuters reported.

Biden granted an unconditional pardon to Hunter on Sunday, citing concerns that the younger Biden would continue to be unfairly targeted by political adversaries even after the president leaves office. 

The move has sparked backlash across the political spectrum, with many arguing it threatens public trust in the rule of law.

In his announcement, President Biden stated that his son had been "selectively prosecuted" and unfairly targeted due to his political connections. Hunter Biden had been under investigation for tax and gun-related offenses, charges stemming from years of scrutiny by Republican lawmakers. 

While Hunter’s business dealings have long been a focal point of Republican claims about corruption, no clear evidence has emerged to link his actions directly to his father’s political career.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre elaborated on Monday, suggesting the pardon was necessary because Biden believed Hunter would continue to face "grief" from his political opponents even after the president’s term ends. 

Jean-Pierre, who had previously stated that Biden would not pardon his son, explained that the decision was made because it seemed unlikely that political adversaries would "move on" from pursuing Hunter. "It didn't seem like they would let go of it," she said during a flight to Angola.

Jean-Pierre also pointed out that this was not the first time a president had pardoned a family member. She referenced Bill Clinton's pardon of his half-brother, Roger Clinton, and Donald Trump's pardon of his son-in-law’s father, Charles Kushner. 

Despite the political backlash, she maintained that Biden still believes in the integrity of the Department of Justice, even though he views the charges against his son as politically motivated. 

"Two things could be true," Jean-Pierre said. "The president does believe in the justice system, and he also believes his son was singled out."

The decision has drawn sharp criticism from both sides of the aisle. Some Democrats are concerned that it undermines the rule of law, a principle that has been central to Biden’s platform, especially in comparison to the actions of former President Trump. 

Meanwhile, Republicans continue to accuse the Biden family of corruption. The controversy is further complicated by the fact that Hunter Biden was set to face sentencing in federal court for tax violations and a gun charge.

Hunter Biden's legal team filed a motion to dismiss the indictments on Sunday, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing legal saga. 

Despite the polarization, President Biden remains steadfast in his belief that his son’s prosecution was driven by political motives.

 "No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son," he said.