US President Joe Biden has granted a full and unconditional pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, who was facing sentencing for two criminal cases.

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In a statement, President Biden said his son had been "singled out" and described the cases against him as "a miscarriage of justice."

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"From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted," he stated.

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Hunter Biden had pleaded guilty to tax charges in September and was convicted in June of being an illegal drug user in possession of a firearm, making him the first child of a sitting president to be convicted of a crime.

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The pardon comes after President Biden had previously ruled out granting clemency to his son. In September, the White House press secretary reiterated that the president would not issue a pardon. However, on Sunday evening, Biden justified his decision, citing the influence of politics on the legal process.

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"Politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice," the president remarked. "Once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further."

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He added, "I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision."

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Reacting to the pardon, Hunter Biden expressed gratitude, acknowledging his past mistakes during the "darkest days" of his addiction.

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"Mistakes I made have been exploited to publicly humiliate and shame my family for political sport," he said. "I will never take the clemency I have been given today for granted and will devote the life I have rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering."

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Hunter, now 54, has reportedly been sober for over five years, a milestone his father highlighted in his statement.

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Hunter had pleaded guilty to nine counts of federal tax fraud in September, which could have carried a prison sentence of up to 17 years. In June, he was also convicted of three felonies related to a gun purchase, for which he faced up to 25 years in prison.

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Sentencing for these cases was initially scheduled for 12 and 16 December.

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The legal troubles surrounding Hunter Biden had cast a shadow over his father’s presidency and political career. President Biden had withdrawn from the 2024 election race in July, endorsing Vice-President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate. Harris ultimately lost to Republican Donald Trump in November.

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Trump, who will succeed Biden, is set to assume the presidency on Inauguration Day, 20 January 2025.

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