Biden privately 'considered pardon for Hunter SIX MONTHS ago' but denied it in public
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
President Joe Biden promised the American people for years that he would not move to pardon his son Hunter despite multiple lawsuits against him.
But after going back on his word Sunday night , multiple reports emerged detailing how Biden was considering a pardon for months after Hunter's conviction in a federal gun case over the summer.
While it's been reported that Biden made the decision at mass on Saturday, two people with direct knowledge of the discussions told NBC News that the president was discussing a pardon with close aides as early as Hunter's conviction was handed down on June 11, 2024.
The individuals said a decision was made for Biden to publicly state he would not pardon his 54-year-old son even though he still privately weighed the option.
Others close with Biden told Axios that internal family lobbying combined with the president's own feelings of guilt over prosecution of his son made them believe he would change his mind about a pardon.
'Once it became clear that the Justice Department was dead set on jail time, this was always how it was ending,' a person in the Biden orbit claimed.
Biden said in his statement on the pardon that he 'wrestled' with the decision, but sources told CNN he began telling staff about the pardon on Saturday evening – 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 pardon Hunter.
Jean-Pierre refused to tell reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday whether Biden discussed the pardon with Hunter during their Thanksgiving together on the ritzy New England island off the coast of Massachusetts.
The president's son was convicted in June of three federal felonies for lying about his drug use on a form to purchase a firearm.
At least twice that month, Biden said he would not issue a pardon for 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.
Then 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 Dad. I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today,' he wrote. 'As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.'
But on Sunday night, 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 until now. Biden ignored the inquiries.
Hunter's conviction 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 longer a need for sentencing in two days since Hunter Biden has a presidential pardon from his father.
On July 26, Biden's main spokesperson 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 during a briefing at the White House in late July.
A reporter followed-up with: 'It will always be a no?'
'It's still a no. It will be a no. It, it is a no,' she reiterated. 'And I don't have anything else to add.'
'Will he pardon his son? No,' Jean-Pierre was adamant.
In an unrelated case regarding accusations 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 calculus on pardoning Hunter.
With the announcement over the weekend, Donald Trump is now suggesting he will move to pardon all those jailed, convicted or prosecuted in relation to the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
The president-elect signaled Sunday night he intends to use Biden 's pardon to his own advantage.
'Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!' Trump wrote in his first public comment since Biden announced the pardon.
Trump repeatedly floated the idea of the pardons himself during his campaign. And his new choice to lead the FBI , Kash Patel, has taken up the cause of January 6 defendants.
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The idea that Biden simply "changed his mind" this weekend was always laughable.