Will he or won't he: Will President Biden pardon his son Hunter before he leaves office? Apparently, the pardon list has been given final touches

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

2024 U.S. election looms and the end of Biden’s term approaches, speculation rises over whether President Joe Biden will include his son Hunter in his final list of presidential pardons. Historically, outgoing U.S. presidents issue pardons, sometimes in controversial cases. Hunter Biden, facing convictions related to tax and gun charges, is at the center of this discussion. Biden, while previously stating he would allow the justice system to run its course, could exercise leniency or clemency as alternatives to a full pardon, sparking debate on what precedent his decision might set.

Hunter Biden's Charges Raise Pardon Debate

The president’s son pleaded guilty to tax offenses and was convicted on federal gun charges earlier this year. Though Biden previously distanced himself from intervening, legal experts like Graham G. Dodds, political science professor at Concordia University, note Biden has options beyond a full pardon. Clemency, which reduces penalties but leaves convictions on record, is a less sweeping alternative that Biden could consider for his son.

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Pardon History and High-Profile Cases

Presidential pardons often spark significant debate, with high-profile cases like Trump’s pardon of war crime convicts, Clinton’s pardon of Marc Rich, and Ford’s pardon of Nixon setting memorable precedents. Jeffrey Crouch of American University highlights that many presidents have made last-minute