First son Hunter Biden was spotted on camera for the first time since his father pardoned him, smiling for the cameras as he picked up a fast food order in California.
Hunter Biden was spotted in Santa Barbara on Wednesday afternoon wearing a T-shirt, jeans and a baseball cap while picking up food at an Arby’s.
The photos come after Biden announced Sunday night that he would spare his son from being convicted in a pair of separate trials in which he was found guilty of illegally purchasing a gun and failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes. Biden cited in his statement that Hunter Biden’s convictions were politically motivated and a “miscarriage of justice.”
“Today I signed a pardon for my son Hunter,” Biden wrote in a statement. “From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Department of Justice’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I watched my son be selectively and unjustly prosecuted.”
BIDEN SAID TWICE THAT HE WOULD NOT GIVE SON HUNTER BIDEN
Hunter Biden smiles broadly as he leaves an Arbys in Santa Barbara on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. This is the first time President Joe Biden’s son has been photographed since being pardoned by his father. (The Image Direct for Fox News Digital)
He continued: “It is clear that Hunter was treated differently. The charges in his cases only came after some of my political opponents in Congress incited them to attack me and oppose my election. Then a carefully negotiated plea deal negotiated by the Justice Department unraveled in court — with some of my political opponents in Congress taking credit for putting political pressure on the trial. Had the plea deal stood, it would have been a fair, reasonable resolution for Hunter,” he continued.
BIDEN GIVEN SON HUNTERS BIDEN BEFORE EXIT FROM OVAL OFFICE
Hunter Biden flashes a big smile as he leaves an Arby’s in Santa Barbara on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. This is the first time President Joe Biden’s son has been photographed since being pardoned by his father. (The Image Direct for Fox News Digital)
“I believe in the justice system, but as I have struggled with this, I also believe that raw politics has infected this process and led to a miscarriage of justice – and when I made this decision this weekend, there was no point in delaying it . Furthermore, I hope that Americans will understand why a father and a president would come to this decision.”
The pardon is in there stark contrast to what the president said said earlier this year, vowing not to pardon his son either before or after Hunter was found guilty in a gun trial in June.
WHO ELSE CAN PROVIDE DATA AFTER HE SAVED HUNTER FROM CONVICTION?
“I’m not going to do anything,” Biden said after Hunter was convicted in the gun case. ‘I’ll stick to it the jury’s decision.”
Hunter Biden flashes a big smile as he leaves an Arby’s in Santa Barbara on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. This is the first time President Joe Biden’s son has been photographed since being pardoned by his father. (The Image Direct for Fox News Digital)
Hunter Biden was found guilty on June 11 of lying about his drug use when purchasing a gun in 2018. He was found guilty of three charges: making a false statement when purchasing a gun, making a false statement with relating to information required to be retained by a federally licensed gun dealer and possession of a gun by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance.
Hunter Biden had an extensive and well-documented history of addiction, best reflected in his 2021 memoir “Beautiful Things,” which guided readers through his spirals of crack cocaine use.
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Hunter Biden faced another trial on three tax felonies and six tax misdemeanors over his alleged failure to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes in a California court in September. While jury selection was about to start Los Angeles Federal CourtHunter entered a surprising guilty plea.
