Hunter vows to “make amends and rebuild lives” after father Joe Biden pardons him

Following a presidential pardon from his father Joe, Hunter Biden expressed regret and committed to helping those struggling with addiction.
In his statement signed “Robert Hunter Biden,” he acknowledged that he made mistakes during his struggles with addiction, which he said were exploited for political attacks against him and his family.
He highlighted his five-year success in sobriety and credited his faith and support network. According to the Daily Mail, Hunter attributed his legal troubles, including federal gun and tax fraud charges, to his documented substance abuse problems.
“I acknowledged and took responsibility for my mistakes in the darkest days of my addiction – mistakes that were exploited to publicly humiliate and shame myself and my family for the sport of politics,” he said.

“Despite all of this, I have maintained my sobriety for more than five years thanks to my deep faith and the unwavering love and support of my family and friends,” he added.
Speaking about his journey to recovery, he admitted that he wasted opportunities while battling addiction. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to rebuild his life and, where possible, make amends.
“During addiction, I missed many opportunities and advantages. In recovery, we can be given the opportunity to make amends where possible and rebuild our lives if we never take for granted the grace we have been given,” Hunter said.
The president’s pardon came as a surprise and contradicted previous statements from the White House. President Biden defended his decision, citing what he saw as selective prosecution of his son.
The president expressed concern about the political motivations behind the charges, particularly in relation to the weapons crime case. He claimed that Hunter’s treatment differed from typical cases.
The pardon sparked mixed reactions, including comments from the camp of US President-elect Donald Trump. Trump’s spokesman criticized the Democratic-controlled justice system, while Trump himself questioned pardons for the January 6 defendants.
He wrote: “Does the pardon granted by Joe Hunter also apply to the J-6 hostages who have been imprisoned for years now?” Such an abuse and miscarriage of justice!’
Hunter’s legal team, led by Abbe Lowell, had previously argued that their client was targeted for political reasons. The case revealed challenging family moments, particularly regarding Hunter’s substance abuse issues.
The charge could have resulted in significant prison sentences, with the penalty being up to 25 years for the weapons case and up to 17 years for the tax case. Hunter, who has now been sober for over five years, had paid off his tax debts with the help of a wealthy partner.