US President Biden’s growing worries spurred son’s pardon without delay
Live MintSeveral of President Biden’s close confidants for months said privately that they expected him to pardon his son Hunter, even as he publicly insisted he wouldn’t. While a pardon always was a possibility as Hunter faced yearslong scrutiny from U.S. attorney—and later special counsel—David Weiss, his defense lawyers said they didn’t have it in mind as they navigated the probe and plea negotiations that last year appeared set to resolve the younger Biden’s legal woes. Among the witnesses were Hunter Biden’s ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle, and Hallie Biden, the widow of the president’s eldest son, Beau Biden. The timing of Biden’s pardon effectively pre-empted not only the sentencing hearings but also filings from prosecutors recommending punishments for the president’s son.