Biden opposes granting clemency to his son Hunter.
President Joe Biden has stated that he has no plans to pardon or lighten the sentence for his son Hunter, who was recently convicted of making false statements during a gun purchase and hiding his drug addiction. Speaking at a press conference in Fasano, Italy during the G7 summit, Biden said, "I said I would respect the jury's decision, and I will." He also flatly denied any plans to reduce his son's prison time when asked.
In Delaware, earlier in the week, Hunter Biden was found guilty by a jury for making false statements during a gun purchase in October 2018 and concealing his drug addiction. He maintains his innocence, arguing that he did not intentionally provide false information during the gun purchase. The penalty for these charges could result in a multi-year prison sentence. Yet, as this is his first offense, he may potentially avoid imprisonment. The sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.
"Proud Father"
Prior to this, the elder Biden had mentioned that he didn't want to interfere in his son's case. Apparently inspired by his son's accomplishments, the 81-year-old declared, "I am extremely proud of him. He has overcome his addiction and is one of the smartest and most capable men I know." The Democrat is set to run against his ex-predecessor Donald Trump in November.
Meanwhile, Trump, who was found guilty in the "hush money" trial in New York last week, is also awaiting sentencing. Trump criticized the justice system as "corrupt" after the verdict and portrayed himself as a victim of a supposed political "witch hunt."
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Despite calls from some quarters for clemency, President Joe Biden has firmly stated that he will not pardon or reduce the sentence for his son Hunter, who is facing prison time for gun-related charges and drug addiction. This stance is in line with his previous comments about respecting the jury's decision. Should the US presidential election 2024 see a rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, their contrasting views on justice and processes could potentially become a significant campaign issue.
