US President Joe Biden said on Thursday that he would not pardon or commute any sentence for his son Hunter, who was recently convicted on charges of lying about his drug addiction while buying a handgun. The President's remarks came during a press conference at the G7 summit in Italy.
"No," Biden responded when asked if he would commute any sentence Hunter faces. "I'm extremely proud of my son Hunter. He has overcome an addiction, he's one of the brightest, most decent men I know," Biden said. "I said I'd abide by the jury decision. I will do that. I will not pardon him."
Hunter Biden, 54, was found guilty by a jury on Tuesday on three felony counts related to his 2018 purchase of a handgun while addicted to crack cocaine. The charges could result in a prison sentence of up to 25 years, although as a first-time offender, jail time is considered unlikely. The sentencing is expected to take place in the coming months.
Following the verdict, President Biden released a statement expressing his love for his son and his respect for the jury's decision. However, his comments in Italy were his first public statement on the matter since the verdict.
The day before his trip to Italy, Biden adjusted his schedule to fly to Wilmington, Delaware, where the trial took place. Hunter Biden was waiting on the tarmac when Marine One landed and was greeted with a warm hug from his father before they left in a motorcade.
The verdict against Hunter Biden comes at a challenging time for President Biden, who is facing a tough re-election battle against former President Donald Trump.
Trump himself recently became the first former president to be convicted of a felony, found guilty by a New York jury of breaching election law by lying about hush money payments to a porn star.
