‘Could not let our son go to jail’: Jill defends Hunter' pardon, says Trump would ‘target’ him

WASHINGTON, DC: Former First Lady Jill Biden has defended former President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon their son Hunter Biden, saying the family feared he would be unfairly targeted after President Donald Trump returned to office.

In a new, unreleased interview, Jill Biden said she supported the pardon despite Joe Biden’s earlier public pledges that he would not grant clemency to his son. Her comments offer one of the most detailed explanations yet from the Biden family about the controversial decision that drew criticism from both Democrats and Republicans.

Jill Biden says Hunter faced unfair treatment after Trump's re-election

In an interview with CBS News, airing this Sunday, May 31, Jill Biden argued that circumstances changed following Trump’s election victory and said the family became concerned about how Hunter Biden would be treated by federal authorities.

“And then the Justice Department changed. And I think that the process was not fair to Hunter,” she said. “When Trump was elected, things changed, and we knew that he would target Hunter. And we just could not let our son go to jail on a charge that no one would go, I mean, no one has ever gone to jail for.”

Hunter was convicted in June 2024 on three felony counts related to the purchase of a firearm while struggling with psychedelic substance addiction. Prosecutors argued he falsely stated on federal paperwork that he was not using illegal substances when he purchased a revolver in 2018.

In a separate federal case, Hunter pleaded guilty to nine tax-related charges in September 2024. Joe Biden had repeatedly stated during his presidency that he would not pardon his son. However, he ultimately reversed course in the final weeks of his administration, a move that triggered bipartisan criticism and renewed debate over presidential pardon powers.

Asked whether she encouraged her husband to issue the pardon, Jill Biden said she fully supported the decision. “I truly supported it. I wanted him to pardon Hunter at that point, and I agreed with Joe.” 

Former First Lady discusses Biden's cancer diagnosis 

Jill also described her husband’s prostate cancer diagnosis as “shocking” and acknowledged that the illness was not detected while he was in office. “Well, you know, the doctor said that according to the American Urological Association, that men over 70 don’t need a PSA, a blood test, anymore because it’s a slow-growing cancer,” she said.

She added, “I do feel we had amazing care in the White House, but somehow that was missed.”

The former First Lady additionally defended Joe Biden’s decision to issue preemptive pardons for several family members before leaving office. Asked why those pardons were granted, she replied, “I suppose for the same reason that he felt that they would be targeted.”

The interview comes ahead of the release of Jill Biden’s memoir, 'View from the East Wing: A Memoir', which details her time in the White House and the challenges faced by the Biden family during and after Joe Biden’s presidency.