Joe Biden Pardons Hunter Biden, Raising Legal and Ethical Questions

The president's unprecedented decision to pardon his son for federal offenses has reignited debates over presidential pardoning powers and potential self-pardons.

• President Joe Biden issued a pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, covering federal tax and gun charges as well as potential offenses spanning a decade.
• The move has drawn mixed reactions, with critics questioning its ethical implications and supporters citing politically motivated prosecutions as justification.
• Legal experts remain divided on whether a U.S. president can pardon themselves, a question that has never been tested in court but could arise if Biden seeks to shield himself from future prosecutions.
• The pardon for Hunter Biden follows Biden's earlier promises not to pardon his son, prompting bipartisan criticism and speculation about further clemency actions to offset the controversy.
• Biden has now pardoned 26 individuals during his presidency, including those convicted of nonviolent drug offenses and participants in international prisoner swaps.

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