Special Counsel Criticizes Biden’s Pardon of Hunter, Warns of Eroding Public Trust

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Special Counsel David Weiss sharply criticized President Joe Biden in a final report released Monday, condemning the president’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, and accusing him of unfairly maligning Justice Department officials. The report, obtained by Fox News Digital, follows a years-long investigation into Hunter Biden’s financial and legal troubles.

Weiss, who led the probe, rebuked President Biden for granting his son a “Full and Unconditional Pardon” on Dec. 1, 2024, which covered nearly 11 years of conduct, including felony firearm offenses and federal tax crimes. The pardon came just days before Hunter Biden was scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 16, potentially facing up to 17 years in prison.

In the report, Weiss called the president’s public statements about the prosecution “gratuitous and wrong,” particularly Biden’s claim that the case was “selective,” “unfair,” and “infected” by “raw politics.” Weiss wrote, “Other presidents have pardoned family members, but in doing so, none have taken the occasion as an opportunity to malign the public servants at the Department of Justice based solely on false accusations.”

The special counsel also referenced a comment by Judge Mark C. Scarsi, who noted that while the Constitution grants the president broad pardon powers, it does not allow him to “rewrite history.” Weiss emphasized that the prosecutions were the result of “thorough, impartial investigations” and not partisan motives, as eight judges across multiple courts had rejected claims of selective or vindictive prosecution.

Weiss warned that the president’s actions and statements risked eroding public confidence in the justice system. “Calling those rulings into question and injecting partisanship into the independent administration of the law undermines the very foundation of what makes America’s justice system fair and equitable,” he wrote.

The federal investigation into Hunter Biden began in November 2018, but allegations of politicization emerged in 2023 when IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler testified before Congress. They claimed that political influence had affected prosecutorial decisions in the probe, which was initially led by Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney David Weiss. Following their testimony, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Weiss as special counsel to continue the investigation.

President Biden’s pardon of his son came after months of public assurances that he would not interfere in the case. In a statement, Biden defended his decision, saying, “From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted.” He added, “I hope Americans will understand why a father and a president would come to this decision.”

The Justice Department and Weiss’s office declined to comment on the report, which has been transmitted to Congress and is expected to be made public in the coming weeks.