Trump says he could free January 6 rioters after Biden clears son Hunter

Joe Biden's U-turn decision to pardon his son Hunter in the final weeks of his presidency has drawn criticism from Democrats and has been seized on by the president-elect, Donald Trump, to suggest he may grant clemency to some of the ringleaders of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.

- Robert Tait

In a statement on Sunday evening, Biden issued "a full and unconditional" pardon to his son Hunter Biden, covering convictions on federal gun and tax charges, marking a reversal after the president had repeatedly said he would not use his executive authority to pardon his son or commute his sentence.

Hunter Biden was scheduled to be sentenced for his conviction on federal gun charges on December 12 and in the tax case four days later.

The president's volte-face drew predictable fire from Republicans, led by the president-elect who called it a "miscarriage of justice" and used it to raise the case of the jailed ringleaders of the 2021 assault on the US Capitol.

"Does the pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years?" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Yet it was condemnation from Democrats - some of whom said he had handed Trump justification to use the presidential pardon power - that likely carried greater sting.

Jared Polis, the Democratic governor of Colorado, said Biden had risked his reputation and legacy.