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,

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