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,

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.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Monday defended President Joe Biden's decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, despite telling the press multiple times that the president had no such plans.