Jill Biden backs Biden's pardon of son Hunter

In an interview promoting her new memoir, former First Lady Jill Biden has publicly defended her husband’s decision to pardon their son, Hunter Biden, a move that reversed a previous public pledge. Jill Biden stated she supported the clemency because the family believed the legal process had become unfair and that Hunter would be targeted if Donald Trump returned to the White House.

The pardon, issued on December 1, 2024, granted full and unconditional clemency to Hunter Biden for any offenses committed between January 2014 and December 2024. This action came after Hunter Biden was convicted in June 2024 on three federal gun charges related to lying about his drug use to purchase a firearm. He later pleaded guilty to multiple tax offenses, including felony tax evasion.

During the interview, Jill Biden was asked about Joe Biden’s repeated promises that he would not pardon his son. She acknowledged he had made that pledge but argued the circumstances changed. She stated that after the 2024 election, the family believed the Justice Department would shift and that Trump would target Hunter. She expressed the view that the charges were for offenses no one typically goes to jail for,...