The White House says President Biden has no plans to pardon his son Hunter, who is facing federal charges related to guns and taxes.
“We’ve been asked this question many times. The answer is still no,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a press briefing on November 7, when asked if President Joe Biden planned to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, at the end of his term.
Jean-Pierre also said he would not comment on any pardons the President plans to issue, including pardons for any administration officials or people who have been threatened with lawsuits by President-elect Donald Trump.
“I know pardons will be one of the main questions I’ll be getting in the coming weeks and months. Once I have information, I’ll be sure to share it,” the White House press secretary added.
Hunter Biden leaves federal court in Los Angeles after pleading guilty on September 5. Photo: AP
In the first-ever prosecution of the son of a sitting US president, a federal jury in Wilmington, Delaware, on June 11 found Hunter Biden guilty of three serious crimes stemming from his purchase of a handgun while addicted to drugs in 2018.
Hunter could face up to 25 years in prison, but that is considered unlikely as he is a first-time offender. The US President’s son is scheduled to be sentenced on December 12.
In an interview in June, Mr. Biden affirmed that he would abide by the jury’s verdict and not pardon his son.
Hunter, 54, is President Biden’s only son after his eldest son Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2015. In addition to the gun case, Hunter pleaded guilty in September to nine federal tax-related charges in Los Angeles and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 16.
