Today, I made the difficult decision to grant a pardon to my son, Hunter Biden. From the moment I took office, I pledged to uphold the independence of the Department of Justice and not interfere with its decisions. I have kept that promise, even as I watched my son face selective and unfair prosecution.
The charges against Hunter are atypical and disproportionate. In cases without aggravating factors—such as criminal intent, multiple violations, or acting as a straw purchaser—felony charges for errors on gun forms are almost unheard of. Similarly, individuals who face tax issues due to addiction but later repay their obligations with interest and penalties are typically dealt with through non-criminal resolutions. Hunter’s treatment clearly diverges from standard practice.
These charges arose only after my political opponents in Congress sought to use the legal system to attack me and undermine my presidency. A carefully negotiated plea deal, endorsed by the Department of Justice, was derailed in court, with some of these same opponents boasting about their political interference in the process. That plea deal represented a fair and reasonable resolution to Hunter’s legal challenges. Its collapse highlighted the unusual and politically charged nature of this case.
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No objective observer can ignore that Hunter has been singled out because he is my son. This unjust treatment is not only wrong, but it is also an affront to the principles of fairness and equality under the law. For more than five years, Hunter has remained sober despite relentless personal and public attacks. Efforts to break him have extended to trying to break me, and it’s clear that this campaign of harassment will continue unless confronted. Enough is enough.
Throughout my career, I have adhered to a simple principle: tell the truth to the American people. They have always shown themselves to be fair-minded. The truth here is that I believe in our justice system, but I also believe this case was tainted by raw political motivations, leading to a miscarriage of justice. After much reflection, I concluded that action was necessary and saw no reason to delay this decision further.
I hope the American people can understand the reasons behind my choice. I made this decision as a father, standing up for what is fair, and as a President, seeking to protect the principles of justice. Hunter’s story is one of perseverance and accountability, and I hope this chapter allows him—and our nation—to move forward.
