Biden pardons son Hunter for 'illegal possession and tax evasion of firearms'

U.S. President Joe Biden has pardoned his son Hunter Biden for illegal possession of a firearm and tax evasion.

Hunter Biden avoided criminal punishment after President Biden reversed his promise that he would not pardon his son or reduce his sentence.

In a statement released on the 1st local time, President Biden said the prosecution of Hunter was politically motivated and called it a "misjudgment."

He added, "Any reasonable person who has looked at the case will be able to draw any conclusions other than the conclusion that Hunter was treated differently because he was my son."

He then asked, "I hope the American people understand why I made this decision as a father and president."

President Biden, who said he made the pardon decision this weekend, spent the Thanksgiving holiday with Hunter's family in Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Earlier in June, Hunter Biden was convicted by a jury of hiding drug addiction and illegally possessing a firearm.

He was also charged with failing to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes and pleaded guilty in September.