Joe Biden’s son has admitted that his presidential pardon was “not good” for America or his father’s reputation

Hunter Biden was granted clemency in 2024 after having been convicted of three federal gun charges related to his purchase of a firearm in 2018. He also pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges.

His conviction marked the first time a sitting US president’s child was found guilty of a crime, and was facing up to 25 years in prison and fines of up to $750,000 at his sentencing.

In a BBC Newsnight interview, Mr Biden defended the controversial pardon, saying: “What would you have thought of my dad if he did not do that for me?”

“I was the only one in the world that could have gotten what I got from the only person in the world who could give it, my father.”

However, he admitted the pardon was “not good” for American people, the Constitution, or his father’s reputation.

President Biden granted his son a full pardon in December 2024, retracting on his previous vow to “accept the outcome” of the judicial process.

Mr Biden said he and his father never discussed the possibility of a pardon before it was granted.

At the time it was granted, the former president said: “I hope Americans will understand why a father and a president would come to this decision.”

The president has the authority to grant a pardon to anyone convicted in federal court or by a military court martial. A pardon blocks any further punishment for the forgiven offense and effectively prevents any further consequences of a criminal conviction. The president does not have the authority to grant pardons on state-level convictions.

A pardon does not include an expungement of a criminal record, but it will restore most legal disabilities, including voting rights and the ability to sit on a jury and possess a firearm. However, it also does not signify innocence.

In the BBC interview, Mr Biden spoke emotionally about the struggles of watching his father’s battle with prostate cancer.

He revealed that the cancer has “metastasised into his bones and further. It’s very painful”.

Praising his father, he said he is, “to this day, the centre of our family”.

He added: “He’s the best father, the best husband, the best grandfather.

“The only thing that I say about my dad, about his health right now, is I wish he would complain more.”