President Biden decided to pardon Hunter months ago

President Biden‘s announcement Sunday that he was pardoning his son Hunter was nothing close to an impulsive decision… TMZ has learned.

White House sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ… Biden had been planning this for more than three months.

Our sources say President Biden was not involved in Hunter’s case in any way until June of last year, when a plea deal was rejected by the judge. We’re told he was “agitated” by the reversal and felt his son had become a political pawn.

As you know, Hunter was convicted on three gun-related charges last June.

Now here’s the twist… we’re told Hunter and his legal team felt the second trial he was accused of 9 tax-related costs – was winnable. Still Hunter has entered a guilty plea in September, which was puzzling at the time because he and his lawyers thought they would get a not guilty verdict.

Our sources – again with direct knowledge – tell TMZ that when the guilty verdict was handed down, it was done with the knowledge that President Biden would pardon him.

Biden made his plans come true on Sunday, when he forgave his son …and said he felt the justice system was being politicized against Hunter.

The prez wrote in the press release that other people convicted of similar crimes as Hunter would have received non-criminal resolutions – but Hunter was treated differently… all because of his relationship with Joe.