CNN suggested the influence of the U.S. first lady on Biden's decision to pardon his son

U.S. First Lady Jill Biden may have convinced current President Joe Biden to pardon his son Hunter. CNN correspondent Jeff Zeleny suggested this possibility on December 2.

"Obviously there was pressure within the family. We've actually been told in recent weeks that <...> first lady Jill Biden has been very supportive of the president doing something like this," the New York Post quoted him as saying.

According to the journalist's assessment, the insistence of the president's wife could have been a key factor in the decision, in which "was not sure" the head of the White House.

The newspaper recalled that the day before Jill Biden said she supported Hunter's pardon. It is noted that she is considered "one of the most influential first ladies in the last 100 years".

Biden dropped all criminal charges against his son Hunter. What the media is saying

Earlier, on December 1, Joe Biden, whose powers expire in January, decided to pardon his son Hunter. Reacting to his father's decision, the latter said he intended to devote his life to helping people with addictions. In Biden Sr.'s opinion, his son was unfairly prosecuted, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Izvestia that the pardon of Hunter Biden is a caricature of democracy. In turn, US President-elect Donald Trump called what is happening an "abuse and violation of justice", and the newspaper Politico compared it to the outcome of the Watergate scandal.

In September, Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to nine counts of criminal tax evasion, and in June - on three counts of weapons possession. The verdict in these cases was to be announced on December 12 and 16.