US President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he had granted a pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted of making false statements on a gun background check and illegally possessing a firearm. Hunter Biden had also pled guilty to federal tax charges, admitting to failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes. President Biden expressed that his decision to pardon his son came after years of what he described as unfair, politically motivated prosecution.

Biden stated that he had promised not to interfere with the Justice Department’s decisions, yet believed Hunter had been targeted simply because of his familial relationship with the president. The White House had previously asserted that Biden would not issue a pardon or commute his son’s sentence, but the president made an exception, citing the selective and unfair nature of the legal actions against Hunter.

Hunter Biden, in his statement, acknowledged his past mistakes during his battle with addiction, which he said were exploited for political gain. He expressed gratitude for his sobriety, now over five years, and vowed to dedicate his life to helping others who are still struggling with addiction.

The legal issues involving Hunter Biden had become a major point of contention, with critics, especially among Republicans, accusing him of benefiting from his father’s political position. President Biden emphasized that the prosecution of his son was an attempt to politically damage him, highlighting that similar cases involving addiction and tax issues typically do not lead to criminal charges.

Hunter Biden was facing sentencing for the gun convictions on Wednesday and for tax offenses on December 16. In his statement, he promised not to take his pardon for granted, stating that he would devote his life to helping others suffering from addiction.