The presidential pardon is a centuries-old practice. As questions swirl around Joe Biden pardoning Hunter Biden, here’s a look into how the practice came about.

The White House said on Monday that President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter in part because of concern his political opponents would continue to persecute the younger Biden in the future, as a growing chorus of Democrats and Republicans criticized his decision.

Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to nine tax violations in September and was convicted in a separate case on felony firearms-related charges. He could have faced decades in prison, though his upcoming sentencing was likely to be a much less severe punishment.

The pardon comes after Biden repeatedly said he would not use his executive authority to pardon his son or commute his son’s sentence. And in his statement, Biden said he was granting the pardon because his son had been “selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted.”

President Joe Biden is ducking questions on his decision to break his word and pardon his son Hunter, ignoring calls for him to explain his reversal as he was making his first presidential trip to Angola.

The White House on Monday defended President Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden after insisting for more than a year that he wouldn’t do so. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Air Force One that the president made his decision in part because he believed Republicans and President-elect Trump wouldn’t let

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter The White House is defending President Biden’s pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, after the President had repeatedly insisted that he had no plans to grant such executive clemency.

President Biden is facing a backlash from fellow Democrats in addition to Republican rivals for his "full and unconditional" pardon of Hunter Biden.