Fact Check: Did Hunter Biden sell pardons to associates after being pardoned by Joe Biden?
WASHINGTON, DC: A rumor is circulating on social media platforms claiming that the Department of Justice found that Hunter Biden sold pardons to his associates in the Ukrainian company after being pardoned by his father and former President Joe Biden. The claim has triggered criticism and speculation, prompting a fact-check.
Claim: Hunter Biden sold pardons to associates
The claim originated with a post on Facebook, which stated that Hunter Biden's legal troubles are mounting again after allegations of corruption after his father signed his pardon have emerged.
"That document covered any crimes up until that moment," a spokesman for the Department of Justice said. "Biden was still in office for another three weeks."
According to the post, the DOJ allegedly said that Hunter sought to take advantage of his pardon during the final three weeks of his father's presidency.
"He used the autopen and sold a dozen pardons to his corrupt pals at Burisma."
The post has garnered thousands of views as of this writing, sparking criticism and questions about the authenticity of the claim.
Fact Check: The claim originated from a parody account
The claim, however, is false, as there is no evidence of Hunter Biden selling pardons to his associates after being pardoned by his father.
The above-mentioned quote attributed to a spokesperson at the DOJ is also baseless, as there are no recent statements, announcements, or social media posts from the department mentioning the controversy surrounding Biden’s pardon.
If the claim were true, it would not go unreported by prominent news media outlets, but a search on Google for the claim yielded no credible news reports.
Moreover, the post was accompanied by an image of Biden and Hunter, with a watermark in the bottom corner stating, “Nothing on this page is real.”
A further look at the account revealed that it is a popular parody account called ‘America’s Last Line Of Defense.’
Hunter Biden admits his pardon was 'not good' for America
Last month, Hunter acknowledged that the presidential pardon granted to him by his father was “not good” for America or his father’s legacy while defending the decision as an act of parental concern.
“What would you have thought of my dad if he did not do that for me? It’s something that is easily criticized and for good reason,” Hunter said.
In December 2024, Biden granted his son a full and unconditional pardon, covering his federal firearms conviction and a tax case to which he had pleaded guilty.
