President Biden will not pardon his son or reduce his sentence

Lina Portman3 weeks ago

0 2 minutes read

Image source, Getty Images

Author, Caitlin Wilson
Role, BBC News, Washington
June 12, 2024

Updated June 13, 2024

President Joe Biden said he would not use his power to reduce his son's prison sentence, a day after the White House declined to comment on the possibility.

Speaking at the G7 summit in Italy, the president said he would not commute Hunter Biden's sentence on a federal gun charge.

A Delaware jury on Tuesday found Hunter Biden guilty of lying about his drug use when purchasing a gun in 2018.

“I said I would respect the jury's decision. I will. And I will not forgive them,” the president said Thursday.

In response to a question, Mr Biden also said he would not use his presidential power to commute – or reduce – his son's sentence.

Before the verdict, Mr. Biden said he would not grant clemency in the event of a guilty verdict.

However, when asked about a commutation of the sentence after the verdict was delivered, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre did not wish to comment and referred to the president's previous statements.

U.S. presidents have the power to commute the sentences of defendants convicted of federal offenses. They can also choose to grant an outright pardon, thereby overturning their conviction entirely.

Commuting a sentence would leave the conviction intact, but replace the sentence handed down in court with a lesser sentence.

Presidents do not have the power of commutation or pardon in state-level cases.

“I am extremely proud of my son, Hunter,” President Biden said during Thursday’s press conference. “He overcame an addiction. He's one of the brightest, most honest men I know. And I'm a believer in doing nothing.”

Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to two charges related to lying about his drug use during a federal background check, and one for possessing a firearm while addicted or using drugs.

The 54-year-old said he was recovering when he purchased the gun in October 2018.

In total, Hunter Biden faces up to 25 years in prison, although legal experts say such a long sentence is highly unlikely.

Constitutionalists disagree on whether a president's pardon power extends to himself, although Donald Trump — should he win the presidency in November — could be the first to judge should he be convicted in either of the two federal criminal cases he faces.