Biden Says ‘Time to End All of This’ as He Pardons Hunter: ‘A Family Matter’ Behind the Decision

New reports reveal that President Joe Biden’s decision to issue a full pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, was driven in part by the political and legal challenges posed by Donald Trump’s return to the White House. As Trump’s reemergence became more likely, Biden reportedly felt increasing pressure to take action, especially with Hunter facing federal gun and tax charges later this month.

“Time to end all of this,” Biden said in a conversation with aides late Saturday evening, according to a person briefed on the call. The New York Times spoke to multiple sources about the president’s thought process leading to this controversial decision.

While there had been growing support for a pardon within the Biden family for months, Biden privately struggled with the idea following Hunter’s conviction on federal gun charges in June. Initially, he had vowed not to interfere with the case, but as time went on, Biden’s mood reportedly darkened. “As the months ticked by, the president’s mood grew ever darker,” the Times noted, adding that by late July, Biden had dropped out of the presidential race. In September, Hunter Biden pleaded guilty just before his tax trial in Los Angeles.

By November, with Trump winning the presidential election, Biden, now an 82-year-old lame duck, became increasingly concerned about the direction of the incoming administration. He watched as Trump began to stock his future administration with figures who were intent on using the judicial system for political retribution. This further fueled Biden’s decision to pardon his son.

The Times also noted that there had been “never serious consideration of anything short of a full pardon, such as a commutation of his sentence,” and that Hunter Biden had made it clear to those close to him that he “wanted – needed – a pardon.”

Ultimately, the decision to grant the pardon was largely seen as a “family matter,” with discussions largely excluding senior White House staff. “The final discussions about pardons excluded senior White House staff, including only the Bidens and defense lawyers,” the report said, underscoring the personal nature of the decision.