10 Key Facts About Hunter Biden, the U.S. President’s Pardoned Son

U.S. President Joe Biden made headlines when he issued a full pardon for his son Hunter Biden, who was facing legal troubles involving firearms and tax charges. This decision came despite Joe Biden’s previous assurances that he would not intervene in his son’s legal matters.

President Biden defended the pardon, stating that Hunter was unfairly targeted because of his connection to him. “No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can conclude anything other than he was singled out because he is my son and that is wrong,” said the President.

Hunter Biden has had a complex personal and professional life. Here are 10 key facts to know about him:

Early Life
Hunter Biden, born on February 4, 1970, is the second son of Joe Biden and his first wife, Neilia Hunter Biden.

Career as an Attorney and Businessman
Hunter graduated from law school in 1996 and began his career as a consultant for MBNA, a banking company that supported his father’s Senate campaigns.

Roles in Global Businesses
In 2013, Hunter co-founded BHR Partners, a Chinese investment firm, and served on the board of Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian natural gas company, from 2014 to 2019.

Legal Troubles
Hunter faced a federal investigation into his tax affairs starting in 2018. He pled guilty to tax charges in 2024 and admitted to illegally owning a firearm while struggling with substance abuse.

Plea Deal and Pardon
In June 2023, Hunter agreed to a plea deal for tax charges and entered a pretrial diversion program for a gun-related charge. However, on December 1, 2024, President Biden issued a full pardon for his son.

Work in Finance and Lobbying
Over the years, Hunter held roles as a lobbyist, legal representative, hedge fund principal, and private equity investor. In 2006, he and his uncle purchased the hedge fund Paradigm Global Advisors, but the venture ended in 2010.

Foreign Agent Investigation
Prosecutors explored whether Hunter violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which requires individuals representing foreign governments to register and report their activities. These investigations involved his dealings with entities in China, Ukraine, and Romania.

Indictments in 2023 and 2024
Hunter was indicted on multiple tax charges in California in December 2023, including felony and misdemeanour offences.

Debt and Financial Struggles
In 2022, emails revealed Hunter was grappling with significant debt and overdue tax bills, which added to his legal troubles.

Controversy Surrounding the Pardon
Joe Biden’s decision to pardon Hunter has sparked political debate, with critics accusing the President of favouritism while supporters argue Hunter was unfairly targeted due to political motives.