New Delhi, Dec 3 : Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and foreign policy expert, criticised US President Joe Biden's unexpected decision to issue a pardon for his eldest son, Hunter Biden, and slammed the US Department of Justice (DOJ) for "politically motivated actions".

Biden's pardon of Hunter, who was convicted of gun crimes and tax violations, has sparked widespread reactions and criticism from Indian experts. This has raised concerns regarding the independence of the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and its indictment against the Adani Group.

Biden's decision, viewed as a significant "U-turn" from his earlier stance, has reignited debates on the impartiality of the US justice system. Previously, Biden had vowed not to use his presidential powers to intervene in his son's legal troubles, asserting his commitment to the rule of law.

However, the President defended his recent move, claiming that the case against Hunter was politically motivated and intended to "break" him and his family.

The pardon has drawn criticism from multiple quarters, with President-elect Donald Trump describing it as a "miscarriage of justice".

Sareen highlighted the unprecedented nature of Biden's decision, suggesting it could be the first instance of a US President pardoning a family member.

"There are two or three aspects to this. First, in the United States, we have often seen that as a President's term comes to an end, they use their power to grant general pardons in specific cases, with no checks or balances," he said.

"Previous presidents have pardoned many individuals, including those involved in tax-related or other cases who were not even present in the US. Despite being outside the country for years, they were still pardoned. But in the case of Biden's son, this is perhaps the first time a president has extended such a pardon to a family member," Sareen told IANS.

Sareen also contrasted Biden's actions with the treatment of Donald Trump, arguing that the former US President faced far greater scrutiny and legal challenges.