US News: Before leaving office, US President Joe Biden has pardoned his son Hunter Biden for illegal possession of guns and tax evasion. Biden's decision is a U-turn on his promise in which he had said that he would not use the powers of the presidency for the benefit of his family members.

Outgoing US President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter on Sunday night, sparing him a potential prison sentence for gun charges and tax convictions. Biden had previously said he would not pardon his son or commute his sentence after he pleaded guilty in two cases in Delaware and California.

Punishment was to happen soon.

Hunter was soon to be sentenced in both these cases. This step has been taken less than two months before the newly elected President Donald Trump returns to the White House. With this, the long-running legal battle surrounding President Joe Biden's son has ended.

Earlier he had refused to apologize.e

Hunter Biden publicly revealed that he was under federal investigation in December 2020, just a month after his father's victory in the 2020 presidential election. In June, Biden ruled out any possibility of a pardon or commutation of sentence for his son.

It was said that the decision of the jury would be accepted

When Hunter faced trial in a gun-related case in Delaware, Biden had said, "I will abide by the jury's decision. I will not pardon him." More recently, on November 8, just days after Donald Trump's victory, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated that Hunter Biden would not be granted any pardon or clemency.

'He was targeted because he is my son'

However, in a statement released on Sunday evening, President Biden announced, 'Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter. Any sensible person looking at the facts of Hunter's case can understand that Hunter was targeted simply because he is my son.'

He further said, 'I hope the American people will understand why a father and a president made such a decision.' Hsaidld that he took this decision over the weekend while celebrating Thanksgiving with Hunter and his family in Nantucket, Massachusetts.