US President Joe Biden said in an interview on Thursday that he will not pardon his son, Hunter Biden, if Hunter is found guilty of federal gun charges.
When asked by ABC interviewer David Muir if he would consider pardoning Hunter, President Biden answered, “Yes,” meaning he would not pardon him.
Biden also said he would accept the trial’s outcome, which is happening in Delaware, where he lives.
Hunter Biden is accused of buying and having a gun while using or being addicted to drugs, which is against federal law.
Hunter has pleaded not guilty to the three charges but has admitted to struggling with alcohol and drug addiction. The charges were made by special counsel David Weiss.
The trial is hard for the Biden family. Hunter was dealing with addiction after his brother Beau died. Even First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Hunter’s stepmother, attended the trial before going to France for D-Day events with her husband.
The White House had already said that President Biden would not pardon his son.
“I’ve been very clear; the president is not going to pardon his son,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in December.
It’s the first time in US history that the child of a sitting president has been on trial.
Biden has previously voiced support for his son and said he was proud of his recovery from addiction.“I am the President, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today,” the president said in a statement Monday as the trial was getting underway.
“Hunter’s resilience in the face of adversity and the strength he has brought to his recovery are inspiring to us. A lot of families have loved ones who have overcome addiction and know what we mean,” he went on.
“As the President, I don’t and won’t comment on pending federal cases, but as a Dad, I have boundless love for my son, confidence in him, and respect for his strength. Our family has been through a lot together, and Jill and I are going to continue to be there for Hunter and our family with our love and support.”
The trial comes after a New York jury returned 34 guilty counts against former President Donald Trump for falsifying business records in an attempt to cover up hush money payments to a porn actress.
