United States President Joe Biden said he will not grant a presidential pardon to his son Hunter Biden if he is convicted in a criminal trial taking place in the state of Delaware.
ABC News reported that, in an interview with anchor David Muir, which will be broadcast in full this Thursday (6), Biden was asked if he would accept a possible guilty verdict against Hunter and replied: “Yes”. The president gave the same answer when Muir asked whether a presidential pardon for Hunter would be out of the question.
Since the beginning of this week, Biden’s son has been on trial in Wilmington, Delaware, on charges that he purchased and kept in his possession a firearm while he was addicted to drugs in 2018, a federal crime. Hunter pleads not guilty.
Previously, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre had already ruled out the possibility of Biden granting a presidential pardon to his own son.
In a statement released on Monday (3), the president did not comment on the merits of the case, but said he supported Hunter.
“I am the president, but I am also a father. [A primeira-dama e mãe de Hunter] Jill and I love our son and are very proud of the man he is today,” said the president in the note.
“Hunter’s resilience in the face of adversity and the strength he brought to his recovery are inspiring to us. Many families have loved ones who have overcome addiction and know what we mean,” Biden said.
“As president, I do not and will not comment on pending federal cases, but as a father, I have boundless love for my son, trust in him and respect for his strength. Our family has been through a lot together, and Jill and I will continue to stand by Hunter and our family with our love and support,” he added.
It is the first time in the history of the United States that the son of a sitting president has been criminally tried. The maximum sentences for the crimes Hunter Biden is accused of amount to 25 years in prison, but legal experts do not believe he will receive such a severe sentence if found guilty, as he is a first-time offender.
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