President Biden has issued a full and unconditional pardon of his son, Hunter Biden. President-elect Donald Trump says he'll nominate ally Kash Patel to serve as the next Director of the FBI. And, rebel militias made territorial gains in Syria as the country's 13-year civil war continues. Join the new NPR Plus Bundle to support our work and get perks like sponsor-free listening and bonus episodes across more than 25 NPR podcasts. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Dana Farringdon, James Hider, Lisa Thomson and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
What did President Biden's pardon of Hunter Biden entail?
I said I abide by the jury decision.
I will do that, and I will not pardon him. All right, so what changed his mind?
I'm Michelle Martin, that's A. Martinez, and this is Up First from NPR News. Trump plans to replace the director of the FBI with a staunch ally, one who says he wants to destroy the agency from within.
I'd shut down the FBI Hoover building on day one and reopening the next day as a museum of the deep state. And I'd take the 7,000 employees that work in that building and send them across America to chase down criminals.
Can Kash Patel make it through the Senate confirmation process?
And a rebel offensive in Syria reignites the country's long-running civil war. Stay with us. We've got all the news you need to start your day. President Biden has pardoned his son, Hunter Biden.
The president issued the full and unconditional pardon seven weeks before he leaves office and after the president previously said he would not do this.
For more, we're joined now by NPR Justice Correspondent Ryan Lucas. Ryan, what does this pardon cover?
So this is, as was said at the top, it's a full and unconditional pardon for offenses Hunter Biden has committed or may have committed from January 1st, 2014 through December 1st, 2024. So yesterday, Specifically, that includes the two cases brought against Hunter Biden by Justice Department Special Counsel David Weiss.
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