White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended President Joe Biden’s controversial decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden.
She called it a necessary response to what the president viewed as a politically motivated miscarriage of justice.
Speaking aboard Air Force One on Monday, Jean-Pierre said the president’s decision came after much deliberation over the weekend.
“He believes in the justice system, but he also believes that raw politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice,” Jean-Pierre stated. “Hunter was singled out because of his last name and who his father is. The president felt that enough is enough.”
The pardon, issued Sunday, provides a “full and unconditional” reprieve for any offenses Hunter Biden committed or participated in between Jan. 1, 2014, and Dec. 1, 2024.
This includes his June conviction on federal gun charges and his September guilty plea in a tax evasion case.
The president had previously dismissed the notion of pardoning his son, repeatedly telling reporters he would respect the justice system’s decisions.
Jean-Pierre herself echoed that stance as recently as Nov. 7. However, following Biden’s decision to exit the 2024 presidential race, the White House appears to have shifted its position.
In a statement accompanying the pardon, Biden acknowledged the potential backlash but stressed his belief in taking decisive action.
“Raw politics has infected this process, and it led to a miscarriage of justice,” he said. “As a father and a president, I came to this decision, and there was no sense in delaying it further.”
First Lady Jill Biden also expressed her support, stating:
“Of course I support the pardon of my son.”
Critics argue the decision undermines the rule of law, while supporters see it as a father’s effort to protect his son from undue persecution.
As the debate unfolds, Jean-Pierre’s pointed defense encapsulates the White House’s stance: “They tried to break his son in order to break him. The president wasn’t going to let that happen.”
