US president Joe Biden has pardoned his son Hunter - despite repeatedly promising he wouldn't do so.
The 54-year-old had been convicted of gun charges and pleaded guilty to tax evasion, making him the first child of a sitting president in the US to be convicted of a crime.
He was due to be sentenced later this month but will no longer face jail time - sparking criticism from Donald Trump.
US President Joe Biden speaks during at the White House in Washington, DC, 18-9-24. Image: dpa picture alliance / AlamyAssociated Press reporter Eric Tucker has said the president’s U-turn is notable.
“President Biden had said that in looking at the facts of the case, he had concluded that Hunter Biden was singled out in quote, a ‘miscarriage of justice’, and was prosecuted because he was the president's son,” he said.
“So, he has determined that the cases were unfair, and that Hunter Biden deserved credit for having turned his life around.”
Joe Biden will hand the over the presidency to Donald Trump on January 20th, following his win against Kamala Harris in November.
