Joe Biden pardons his son. Is that justice? : Consider This from NPR
US President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden hug on stage at the conclusion of the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on August 19, 2024.
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images
hide caption
toggle caption
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images
US President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden hug on stage at the conclusion of the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on August 19, 2024.
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images
Hunter Biden no longer has to worry about going to prison.
That’s because his father President Joe Biden pardoned him with just weeks left in his presidency. The President’s son was convicted in June on federal gun charges. Hunter Biden lied about his addiction to crack cocaine when he purchased a gun. And he pleaded guilty in September for failing to pay more than a million dollars in federal taxes.
The younger Biden was due to be sentenced in both cases later this month.
President Biden has granted his son a sweeping pardon. What will that mean for his legacy… and for the future of presidential pardons?
For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
Email us at [email protected].
This episode was produced by Brianna Scott and Kathryn Fink. It was edited by Courtney Dorning and Nadia Lancy. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
