By Trevor Hunnicutt and Jeff Mason ON BOARD AIR FORCE ONE/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House said on Monday that President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter in part because of concern that his political opponents would continue to persecute the younger Biden in the future,

Reactions started coming through shortly after the announcement on Sunday evening that President Joe Biden had pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, for his tax evasion and federal gun charges.

President Biden issued a broad pardon for his son Hunter. NBC News Washington managing editor Carol Lee, Washington Post White House reporter Matt Viser, former U.S. attorney Chuck Rosenberg and former federal prosecutor Ankush Khardori join José Díaz-Balart to share their legal analysis.

The White House on Monday defended President Joe Biden's decision to pardon his son, Hunter, and said the president believed his political opponents would have kept persecuting his son going forward.

Hunter Biden has been convicted of federal gun charges and federal tax evasion charges. President Joe Biden pardoned his son alleging an unfair process.

U.S. President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden after repeatedly pledging not to. Below is a look at the circumstances leading up to the pardon and its legal consequences. WHAT DID THE PARDON COVER?

During his first term, Trump floated the idea of granting himself clemency amid various legal investigations but ultimately did not act on it.

Hunter Biden had pleaded guilty to tax violations and was convicted on firearms-related charges and faced upcoming sentencing. The Democratic president's pardon comes as Republican President-elect Donald Trump,

On Sunday, President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter, ahead of the younger Biden's sentencing scheduled for this month for federal felony gun and tax convictions. Hunter Biden was convicted in June on gun and tax related charges.