The White House has defended President Joe Biden’s decision to issue a sweeping pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, just weeks before his sentencing in two federal cases. This move, which contradicts earlier assertions that no clemency was planned, has sparked backlash from Republicans.

Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated Monday that the pardon was issued to protect Hunter from what the president views as politically motivated persecution by his opponents. The pardon covers any potential federal crimes Hunter may have committed over the past decade.

President-elect Donald Trump criticized the pardon, calling it “an abuse and miscarriage of justice,” while other Republicans echoed concerns about its implications.

Jean-Pierre told reporters that Biden “wrestled” with the decision over the Thanksgiving weekend, during the family’s retreat on Nantucket, Massachusetts. The pardon was issued Sunday evening before Biden departed for an official trip to Africa.

“[The president] believes in the justice system, but he also believes that raw politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice,” Jean-Pierre said aboard Air Force One en route to Angola. She emphasized that Biden felt Hunter was “singled out” because of his family ties and feared continued targeting by political opponents.

Hunter Biden became the first child of a sitting U.S. president to be criminally convicted when a Delaware jury found him guilty in June of lying about his drug use on a form to purchase a handgun. In September, he pleaded guilty to federal tax charges, including failure to file taxes, tax evasion, and filing a false return.

The pardon not only absolves Hunter of these charges but also covers potential federal crimes committed between January 2014 and December 2024. This timeline includes Hunter’s tenure on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma, during which his father, then vice president, played a significant role in U.S. policy toward Ukraine.

The pardon’s scope extends beyond the existing charges, raising questions about Hunter’s broader legal exposure. Republican lawmakers, who launched a congressional inquiry into Joe Biden’s alleged involvement in his son’s business dealings, have accused the president of lying about his knowledge. However, efforts to impeach Biden fizzled earlier this year, and the president has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

The unprecedented pardon highlights a deeply personal and politically charged decision, one that will likely remain a point of contention as Biden’s presidency nears its conclusion. Critics argue it undermines faith in the justice system, while supporters see it as an effort to shield a family member from undue political attacks.