As President Joe Biden prepares to leave the White House, he faces a crucial decision: whether to pardon his son Hunter. Despite Biden’s public statements against pardoning Hunter, some experts believe he may do so in his final days as president.

Hunter Biden was convicted on felony tax fraud and firearm charges earlier this year. The president has maintained a distance from his son’s legal troubles, avoiding comments that could compromise the investigations. However, author Bob Woodward reported in his book “War” that Biden privately expressed regret over appointing Attorney General Merrick Garland, who intensified the investigation by appointing a special counsel.

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White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated Biden’s stance, telling reporters, “Our answer stands, which is no,” regarding a potential pardon. However, former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Newsweek, “Now that President Joe Biden is not running for reelection, I expect him to pardon Hunter or commute his sentence on the way out. There is nothing preventing President Biden from doing so and he has nothing to lose politically.”

The decision carries significant political risk. Previous controversial pardons, such as Gerald Ford’s pardon of Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton’s pardon of Marc Rich, resulted in severe backlash and political consequences.

Trump’s Surprising Stance

Interestingly, President-elect Donald Trump has not ruled out pardoning Hunter Biden himself. In a radio interview, Trump said, “I wouldn’t take it off the books,” despite calling Hunter “a bad boy.”

As Biden’s presidency comes to a close, the question of Hunter’s pardon remains a contentious issue, with potential far-reaching implications for both the Biden family and the Democratic Party.

Read more at Newsweek