US President Joe Biden issued a formal pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, on Sunday evening, overturning federal felony convictions related to gun possession and tax charges.

The decision marks a significant reversal for the president, who had previously stated that he would not use his executive powers to intervene in his son’s legal matters.

In a statement, President Biden described the charges against Hunter as politically motivated, accusing opponents of using the justice system to attack his family. "Raw politics has infected the system, resulting in a miscarriage of justice," Biden said, adding that Hunter was targeted simply because he is his son. He further asserted that the efforts to prosecute Hunter were part of a broader campaign to undermine him as president.

Hunter Biden had been convicted on federal charges for possessing a firearm while addicted to drugs in 2018 and for failing to pay taxes. In September, he pleaded guilty to tax violations. The presidential pardon covers both the gun and tax convictions.

Biden’s decision is a major shift from his earlier stance, where he had pledged not to intervene in his son’s legal issues. The president emphasized that the legal actions against Hunter were instigated by political opponents and were a response to Hunter's father’s political position. "The charges came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me," Biden stated. He also expressed that a previous plea deal, which had unraveled under judicial scrutiny, was a fair resolution before it was disrupted by political pressure.

President Biden is scheduled to leave for Africa on Sunday evening and is unlikely to address the media during his upcoming trip. (ILKHA)