FACT CHECK: Did Woodrow Wilson Pardon A Brother-In-Law Named Hunter deButts?

Anna Mock | Fact Check Reporter


Verdict: False


There is no evidence of Wilson having a brother-in-law by this name.


Fact Check:


President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter, after he previously pledged that he wouldn’t, according to the Associated Press. Before the pardon, Hunter Biden faced a potential prison sentence for federal felony gun and tax convictions, the outlet reported.


Navarro-Cárdenas made a Dec. 2 X post claiming that Wilson pardoned a brother-in-law named Hunter deButts. “Woodrow Wilson pardoned his brother-in-law, Hunter deButts,” the post’s caption reads in part. It goes on to mention Bill Clinton’s pardon of his brother, Roger, and former President Donald Trump’s pardon of father-in-law Charles Kushner. (RELATED: Can Brian Kemp Pardon Donald Trump?)


There is no evidence Wilson had a brother-in-law who had this name, however. Wilson was married to Ellen Wilson from 1885 to her death in 1914, then married Edith Wilson in 1915, according to Britannica. Ellen Wilson had a sister and two brothers. Her brothers were named Isaac Stockton Keith Axson and Edward Williams Axson, according to the National First Ladies’ Library.

Edith Wilson was the seventh of eleven children, whose names can be found on the same archive, none of which being “Hunter deButts.”

Navarro-CĂĄrdenas made a follow-up post with a screenshot showing that the AI tool ChatGPT claimed Wilson pardoned a brother in law named Hunter deButts.

Anna Mock

Fact Check Reporter

Trending