Hunter Biden Pardon Comes After Biden’s IRS Expansion Efforts
President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter for tax fraud charges Sunday, despite years of advocating stricter IRS enforcement. The decision, critics argue, undermines Biden’s own push to crack down on tax evasion among wealthy individuals.
Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act included $78 billion in funding to bolster the IRS by hiring 87,000 employees. The move was part of a broader effort to reduce the “tax gap,” defined as the difference between taxes owed and those paid. The White House had emphasized the need for wealthier Americans to comply with tax laws, claiming, “It is long past time for the wealthiest households to do the same.”
Hunter Biden pleaded guilty in September to tax charges involving at least $1.4 million in unpaid taxes. Prosecutors accused him of spending the unreported income on an “extravagant lifestyle,” including drugs and luxury hotels. Before his father’s pardon, Hunter faced a potential 17-year prison sentence.
Biden defended the pardon by claiming his son was “selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted.” Critics note, however, that the average tax fraud sentence in 2023 was 16 months, involving sums significantly smaller than Hunter’s unpaid taxes.
The pardon also contrasts with Biden’s IRS policies targeting lower-income earners and small businesses. A controversial rule requires reporting payments over $600 received through apps like Venmo and Cash App. This policy, aimed at closing the tax gap, disproportionately affects side hustles and part-time workers rather than wealthy tax evaders.
The president’s decision comes after he and his administration repeatedly stated Hunter would not be pardoned. In a press event earlier this year, Biden declared, “I will not pardon him,” following Hunter’s conviction on separate firearm-related charges.
Critics argue the pardon erodes public trust in Biden’s commitment to equal enforcement of tax laws, highlighting a stark inconsistency between his administration’s rhetoric and actions.
