Hunter Biden claims his father only pardoned him because Donald Trump returned to the presidency in November 2024, saying Joe Biden “would not have” done so otherwise. “Donald Trump went and changed everything,” Hunter told journalist Tommy Christopher, adding, “I don’t think I need to explain why.”
The 55-year-old, who pleaded guilty last year to evading $1.4 million in taxes and was convicted on felony gun charges, failed to mention he had been present for pardon discussions during Joe Biden’s final months in office.
“I’ve said this before,” Hunter said. “My dad would not have pardoned me if President Trump had not won, and the reason that he would not have pardoned me is because I was certain that in a normal circumstance of the appeals [I would have won].”
“I realize how privileged I am,” Hunter continued. “I realize how lucky I am; I realize that I got something that almost no one would have gotten. But I’m incredibly grateful for it and I have to say that I don’t think that it requires me to make much of a detailed argument for why it was the right thing to do, at least from my dad, from his perspective.”
However, Hunter said he was stunned that President Trump “just commuted George Santos’ sentence” less than three months into the ex-congressman’s seven-year term for defrauding donors.
“Why did he do it? To show that he can do anything — anything he wants,” the former first son lamented.
Former White House chief of staff Jeff Zients revealed last month that Hunter Biden “was involved” in clemency talks and “attended a few meetings,” a source told The Post. Another source confirmed the president sought input from various advisors but made “the final decisions” himself. Neither Zients nor his lawyer disputed the account during his testimony before the House Oversight Committee on Sept. 18.
Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter on Dec. 1, 2024, clearing him of tax and gun felonies and shielding him from prosecution for any alleged crimes dating back to 2014. The former president also issued blanket pardons for family members, including his brother James Biden, who was under federal investigation for business dealings tied to Joe. Zients approved the last-minute clemencies in a Jan. 19 email, with most signed by autopen rather than Biden himself.
“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,” Hunter said in a statement at the time.
