Biden Pardons Hunter For Tax Crimes After Advocating IRS Crackdown
President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter on Sunday for multiple tax-related crimes, despite spending much of his term pushing stricter measures to combat tax evasion. The decision has drawn criticism for its stark contrast to Biden’s earlier efforts to close the “tax gap” through increased IRS enforcement.
The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act allocated $78 billion to expand the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), including hiring 87,000 new employees. The funding was touted as a means to crack down on wealthy tax dodgers and ensure fairness in the tax system. A February 2024 White House statement declared, “It is long past time for the wealthiest households to do the same” as working families who pay their taxes in full.
Hunter Biden, however, pleaded guilty in September to six misdemeanor and three felony tax charges after failing to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes. Prosecutors alleged that Hunter spent the unreported income on luxury hotels, escorts, and drugs. Without his father’s pardon, Hunter faced up to 17 years in prison, with sentencing originally set for Dec. 16.
The pardon follows Biden’s repeated claims that his son was “selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted.” The president argued Hunter was targeted because of his family connections. Yet, federal data shows the average sentence for tax fraud in 2023 was 16 months, with most cases involving far smaller sums than the $1.4 million Hunter failed to pay.
Critics have also pointed to Biden’s IRS policies, including a controversial rule requiring individuals earning more than $600 via platforms like Venmo and Cash App to report the income. This policy disproportionately targets small businesses and part-time workers rather than high-income earners — a stark contrast to the charges against Hunter.
The pardon contradicts prior promises by Biden and White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre that Hunter would not receive special treatment. “I will not pardon him,” Biden stated during a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this year.