President Joe Biden has recently granted a pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, in a surprising reversal of his previous stance. This decision comes after President Biden repeatedly stated that he would not use his executive authority to pardon his son or commute his sentence. The pardon marks a significant development in the ongoing criminal cases against Hunter Biden.
A federal pardon is a powerful tool granted to the president of the United States under Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution. This clemency power allows the president to pardon federal criminal offenses, except those related to impeachment. A full pardon absolves the individual from punishment and restores their civil rights, such as the right to vote and run for office.
President Biden has issued pardons to a total of 25 individuals and commuted 132 sentences during his presidency, as reported by the Justice Department. In addition to his son, Hunter Biden, he has granted clemency to various groups and individuals, including those convicted of marijuana possession and LGBTQ+ service members discharged from the military.
In comparison, former President Donald Trump issued a total of 237 acts of clemency during his first term in office, including 143 pardons and 94 commutations. Some of Trump’s high-profile pardons included individuals like Steve Bannon, Lil Wayne, Kodak Black, Michael Flynn, George Papadopoulos, Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, and Charles Kushner.
For more information on individuals pardoned by President Biden or former President Trump, you can visit the Department of Justice website for a full list of pardons and commutations.
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