The White House has defended President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son, Hunter, after repeatedly insisting he had no plans to grant such executive clemency, writes BBC.

The press secretary said Biden had pardoned his son, who was facing sentencing later this month in two federal cases, to shield him from potential persecution by the outgoing president’s political foes. The sweeping pardon covers any potential federal crimes that 54-year-old Hunter may have committed over the course of a decade.

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that Biden had “wrestled” over the decision during the family’s Thanksgiving break on the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts, at the weekend.

“He believes in the justice system, but he also believes that the raw politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice. Biden believes Hunter is singled out because of who he is and that they [the president’s opponents] would continue to go after his son. This is why the president took this action”, - said Jean-Pierre.