Biden reverses course and will not consider using Presidential power to keep his son from jail.
In a complete reversal of the President’s statement that he would not use his power to prevent his son from going to jail, the White House today said such a move hasn’t been ruled out. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, speaking to reporters on Air Force One as President Joe Biden traveled to the Group of Seven summit in Italy, emphasized that sentencing hasn't been scheduled yet and she hasn't discussed the issue with the president since the verdict.
Jean-Pierre clarified that while Biden has definitively ruled out pardoning his son in a recent ABC News interview, his stance on a potential commutation remains unspecified. She noted that the president was clear and firm in his remarks regarding a pardon, but there's no further information on a commutation.
A pardon entails forgiveness of a criminal offense, restoring certain rights like voting, while a commutation reduces a sentence without overturning the conviction.
This stance marks a shift from the White House's previous position in September when Jean-Pierre was asked about pardoning or commuting Hunter Biden if convicted. At that time, she stated unequivocally that there would be no such action.
Hunter Biden was found guilty of lying on a mandatory gun purchase form and illegally possessing a firearm for 11 days. The three charges carry a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. However, whether he serves any time will be determined by U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, appointed by former President Donald Trump, who has not yet scheduled a sentencing date.
.png)