By Trevor Hunnicutt and Jeff Mason ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House said on Monday that President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter in part to protect him from future persecution from political opponents,

Jean-Pierre’s timeline contradicts recent reporting which suggests Biden began discussing the possibility of a pardon as early as June.

The White House on Monday defended President Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden after insisting for more than a year that he wouldn’t do so. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Air Force One that the president made his decision in part because he believed Republicans and President-elect Trump wouldn’t let