Below is a look at the circumstances leading up to the pardon and its legal consequences. WHAT DID THE PARDON COVER? Hunter Biden was pardoned for

President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son has left some Democrats fuming over his choice to repeatedly and unequivocally claim that he would never take that step, even though a pardon long appeared possible to Hunter Biden’s legal team.

President Joe Biden ’s decision to pardon his son Hunter may have drawn bipartisan criticism, but it doesn’t seem to be causing nearly as much controversy at home. First lady Jill Biden told reporters Monday that she fully supports her husband’s action.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said on Sunday he had pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, reversing his earlier pledge to leave the legal proceedings entirely up to the judicial system. Hunter Biden had pleaded guilty to tax violations and was convicted on firearms-related charges and faced upcoming sentencing.

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.”

Biden won the White House after saying a laptop that contained evidence of corruption in the Biden family was part of a “Russian plan” in 2020. Now, as one of his final acts as president, he is pardoning the son,

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., joined in criticizing President Joe Biden Monday for his decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden. Tuberville said it was Biden’s reversal on his promise, not the pardon, that bothered him.

The president said he issued a pardon because his son was being unfairly targeted for political purposes. Here’s what to know about the pardon, the crimes and the reactions.

President Joe Biden announced Sunday he would pardon his son Hunter Biden, who was convicted of gun and tax crimes, days before sentencings.