World News: In a move that has stirred national debate, outgoing US President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, on Sunday night. The decision spares Hunter from potential prison time for federal felony gun and tax convictions. This unexpected development comes weeks before Hunters sentencing and less than two months before President-elect Donald Trumps return to the White House. The pardon marks a significant departure from Bidens previous assurances that he would not use presidential powers to intervene in his sons legal troubles.Bidens Past Promises ContradictedIn June, Biden firmly stated he would respect judicial decisions regarding Hunters legal cases. “I abide by the jury decision. I will do that and I will not pardon him,” he said as Hunter faced trial for a gun-related charge in Delaware. The White House also reaffirmed this stance on November 8, shortly after Trumps electoral victory, with press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stating, “Our answer stands, which is no.” These declarations now stand in stark contrast to the events of Sunday night.President Biden Justifies the PardonAnnouncing the pardon, Biden described the charges against Hunter as politically motivated. “The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election,” Biden explained in a statement. He further argued that no impartial observer could deny Hunter was targeted because of his familial ties. “I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision,” Biden said, adding that the decision was made during Thanksgiving in Nantucket, where he spent the holiday with Hunter and his family.Hunter Bidens legal troubles first became public in December 2020, shortly after his fathers electoral victory. The cases, spanning gun charges in Delaware and tax offenses in California, have been a focal point for political criticism. With the pardon, Biden has brought the long-standing saga to a close but at the cost of igniting a fresh wave of controversy over his actions as both a father and a president.
