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 because of concern his political opponents would continue to persecute the younger Biden in the future,

Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to nine tax violations in September and was convicted in a separate case on felony firearms-related charges. He could have faced decades in prison, though his upcoming sentencing was likely to be a much less severe punishment.

Biden won the White House after saying a laptop that contained evidence of corruption in the Biden family was part of a “Russian plan” in 2020. Now, as one of his final acts as president, he is pardoning the son,