Overview
- Speaking in a newly released Substack interview, Hunter Biden gave his first public remarks on the pardon since President Trump’s recent indictments of political opponents.
- He said President Joe Biden would not have pardoned him if Trump had lost, stating he expected to prevail on appeal under normal circumstances.
- He argued the pardon limited efforts to use him as the “easiest target,” which he framed as part of Trump’s post‑election retaliation campaign.
- The Justice Department’s clemency warrant shows the Dec. 1, 2024 pardon erased his tax and gun convictions and broadly covered alleged offenses from Jan. 1, 2014 through the clemency date.
- He acknowledged receiving extraordinary privilege and said he was incredibly grateful, as reporting also continues that ex–chief of staff Jeff Zients testified Hunter attended some clemency meetings.