White House Gives Biden’s Stance On Pardoning Son If He’s Convicted Of Crimes

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Friday that President Joe Biden will not consider commuting or pardoning his son, Hunter Biden, if he is convicted of the crimes he is accused of committing.

Special counsel David Weiss filed charges against Hunter Biden this week stemming from a firearm-related incident from when Joe Biden was vice president in the Obama administration.

The indictment charges the president’s son with three crimes related to false statements made on a federal application to purchase a firearm. The charges relate to a time when, in October 2018, Hunter claimed he was clean of drugs to purchase a handgun. He later wrote in his memoir that he was addicted to crack cocaine at the time.

“Would the president pardon or commute his son if he’s convicted?” a reporter asked.

“So, I’ve answered this question before, it was asked of me not too long ago, a couple of weeks ago,” she said. “And I was very clear, and I said, ‘no.'”

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KJP says Biden won't pardon his son. Maybe he won't have to. pic.twitter.com/4PCwK2YgBv

— NewsBusters (@newsbusters) September 15, 2023

Two of the counts carry max sentences of 10 years in prison, while the third carries a max sentence of five years, according to NBC News. The stiff sentences are a sharp contrast to the agreement worked out under the plea deal that was blown up in federal court by a judge. The plea agreement would have freed Hunter from jail time and instead put him in a diversion program that, if completed successfully, would have wiped the gun charges from his record.

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Hunter, “knowing that he was an unlawful user of and addicted to any stimulant, narcotic drug, and any other controlled substance … did knowingly possess a firearm, that is, a Colt Cobra 38SPL revolver,” the indictment says.

Weiss signaled earlier this month that he was looking at charges against Hunter related to lying on a federal firearm registration form and owning a gun illegally. Weiss wrote in a notice to Judge Maryellen Noreika in Delaware that he was considering charging the Biden heir with gun charges, though Weiss did not mention other charges related to Hunter’s overseas business dealings or taxes that are the subject of an ongoing corruption investigation by House Republicans. Hunter’s failed plea deal struck with Weiss included two misdemeanor tax charges as well.