The decision, which was first reported by NBC News, is a reversal for the president, who repeatedly said he would not use his authority to pardon his son or commute his sentence.

Next, Biden should pardon those like Jack Smith who Trump might target when in office. There may also be purpose in pardoning Trump himself, and the many enablers of Trump’s schemes.

A former state senator who was federally convicted of fraud wants President-elect Donald Trump to pardon him in the wake of President Biden pardoning his son Hunter. Dean Tran, a Massachusetts Republican who ran for Congress, is calling for an “unconditional pardon” a day after Biden signed a pardon for his son.

President Joe Biden just made history — the bad kind — with Sunday night’s sweeping Thanksgiving-weekend pardon of his own son, Hunter Biden. (Talk about trying to bury a story.) The outgoing president made this all way harder than it needed to be on himself, his son, and the justice system.

Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to nine tax violations in September and was convicted in a separate case on felony firearms-related charges. He could have faced decades in prison, though his upcoming sentencing was likely to be a much less severe punishment.

U.S. President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden after repeatedly pledging not to. Below is a look at the circumstances leading up to the pardon and its legal consequences.

The president’s spokesperson on Monday offered little explanation as to why the president changed his mind, but said he maintained faith in the justice system.