Joe Biden pardons his son Hunter despite previous pledges not to

President Joe Biden speaks on the South Lawn of the White House (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter, on Sunday night, sparing the younger Mr Biden a possible prison sentence for federal felony gun and tax convictions and reversing his past promises not to use the extraordinary powers of the presidency for the benefit of his family members.

The Democratic president had previously said he would not pardon his son or commute his sentence after his convictions in the two cases in Delaware and California.