Washington: President-elect Donald Trump has criticized outgoing President Joe Biden's decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted of gun-related offenses and tax violations, calling the move a "miscarriage of justice."

In a Truth Social post, Trump questioned whether Biden's pardon for his son extended to individuals he referred to as the "J-6 Hostages"—a term used by Trump and his supporters for those incarcerated over their involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol Hill riots. Trump claimed these individuals were imprisoned unjustly, portraying their actions during the events as peaceful and patriotic.

Speculation has risen that Trump, upon taking office, may issue pardons for those convicted in connection with the Capitol siege.

On Sunday, President Biden officially pardoned Hunter Biden, ensuring he would not face sentencing or prison time for the charges. In a statement, Biden defended the decision, arguing that cases like Hunter's—particularly involving tax issues linked to addiction—are typically resolved through non-criminal means. He contended that his son was unfairly targeted for prosecution due to political motivations.

"Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter," Biden stated. "From the start of my presidency, I committed not to interfere with the Justice Department’s work, and I upheld that promise. Despite this, I witnessed my son being selectively and unfairly prosecuted. For individuals facing similar circumstances—such as those with addiction-related tax issues—felony charges are almost never pursued without aggravating factors like use in a crime or other serious offenses. Hunter's case was clearly handled differently."

Biden claimed the charges stemmed from political opponents in Congress pushing for the case as part of efforts to undermine his presidency. He noted that a plea deal negotiated with the Department of Justice fell apart in court, which he attributed to political interference.

"The charges only came after my political opponents in Congress pushed for them, exploiting them to attack me and my presidency," Biden said. "A fair and reasonable plea deal agreed upon with the DOJ was derailed in court due to political pressure, with my opponents even taking credit for their interference."

Biden maintained that the legal proceedings against his son were motivated by partisan politics, describing the situation as a "miscarriage of justice" and asserting that Hunter was targeted because of his family ties. He concluded by expressing faith in the judicial system while lamenting its susceptibility to political influence in this case.