The debate over presidential pardons took a personal turn this week as Hunter Biden openly acknowledged the unique position he occupies — even as he criticized how the power is being used today.
According to the New York Post, in an interview, Hunter Biden conceded that his own experience receiving clemency makes it difficult for him to speak objectively on the issue.
“I’m completely biased as it relates to what my dad did for me. I fully understand how uniquely situated I am in being privileged enough to have received a pardon from my father,” he said.
That pardon, issued by Joe Biden near the end of his presidency, granted his son sweeping protection.
It covered any potential offenses committed over a nearly decade-long period, from January 2014 through December 2024.
The move marked a dramatic shift after repeated assurances from the White House that such action would not be taken.
At the time, Joe Biden defended the decision by arguing his son had been treated unfairly by prosecutors, describing the case as “selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted.”
Hunter Biden’s legal troubles had included a 2024 conviction tied to illegal firearm possession while using drugs, followed months later by a guilty plea in a tax case involving $1.4 million.
The pardon drew criticism from both political opponents and members of the president’s own party, with some warning it could set a precedent.
Now, as he reflects on the issue, Hunter Biden has pointed to what he sees as a sharp contrast in how clemency is being used by President Donald Trump.
“I think my dad gave 80 or so pardons over a four-year period of time,” he said. “Donald Trump has given over 1,500 pardons in the first year alone. But I’m obviously—I’m not the one to be, I don’t think, fairly or unbiasedly talking about the presidential pardon power.”
The numbers he cited refer in part to a large-scale use of clemency during Trump’s current term, including a sweeping grant of relief tied to individuals involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol unrest.
Outside of that action, Trump has issued additional pardons and commutations, contributing to a total that has drawn attention from critics and supporters alike.
By comparison, Joe Biden issued a record number of commutations during his presidency, along with a smaller number of pardons.
