Hunter Biden Participated in White House Pardon Discussions Near End of Father’s Term, Source Says

New revelations from the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into President Joe Biden’s use of an autopen have confirmed what many suspected: Hunter Biden played a direct role in internal White House pardon discussions in the final months of his father’s presidency — and may have even influenced decisions surrounding his own controversial pardon.

According to a source familiar with former White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients’ testimony to congressional investigators, Hunter Biden attended multiple meetings about pardons and clemency orders alongside senior White House aides. These meetings reportedly took place in the run-up to President Biden’s historic wave of clemency grants, including a full pardon for Hunter himself.

Hunter Biden’s Quiet Involvement in Pardon Talks

Zients, who sat for more than six hours of closed-door questioning, is the final known Biden aide to testify in the Oversight Committee’s probe. According to the source, Zients acknowledged Hunter’s presence in at least some meetings related to clemency — though it’s unclear whether Hunter directly advocated for his own pardon or simply observed the proceedings.

“Hunter was involved in some of those pardon discussions and attended a few meetings on the subject with White House aides,” the source told Fox News Digital.

That disclosure raises serious concerns about conflicts of interest and the integrity of the pardon process under the elder Biden. It also directly contradicts previous White House claims that no pardon was ever on the table for Hunter Biden.

In December 2024, President Biden issued what he called a “full and unconditional” pardon for his son — less than two months before leaving office. The move stunned critics, especially after repeated denials by the administration that such a pardon would be considered.

Record Number of Clemency Orders Raises Red Flags

The pardon of Hunter Biden came during a massive wave of clemency actions approved by the outgoing president. On Jan. 17, just days before the end of his term, Biden signed off on nearly 2,500 commutations — helping bring his total clemency actions to over 4,200, the highest ever recorded by a U.S. president.

Among those receiving pardons were several family members, including Hunter, whose legal controversies had become a flashpoint in the 2024 election.

Autopen Controversy and Questions of Mental Fitness

The Oversight Committee is also probing whether President Biden was mentally fit to issue such a large volume of clemency orders. Investigators are particularly focused on the use of an autopen — a mechanical device used to replicate a signature — to authorize executive actions, including pardons and policy directives.

Zients admitted during testimony that President Biden’s verbal stumbles and memory issues had worsened with age.

“He noted that the president’s difficulty remembering dates and names worsened over time, including during the administration,” the source told Fox News.

The probe has raised questions about whether Biden personally authorized the sweeping clemency measures — or whether aides, possibly including his own son, were acting with limited presidential oversight.

Defenders Push Back

A second source defended Zients’ remarks, saying the chief of staff always ensured that Biden received “a range of input” before making decisions.

“Throughout Jeff’s time working with him, while President Biden valued input from a wide variety of advisors and experts, the final decisions were made by the president and the president alone,” the source claimed.

“Jeff had full confidence in President Biden’s ability to serve.”

Still, that reassurance may do little to quell concern over what some lawmakers are calling a “shadow presidency” in Biden’s final year — marked by increasing reliance on aides, evasions of the press, and unprecedented use of executive power to grant legal protections to family members.

Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY) is expected to issue a summary report of the autopen probe later this month.