President Joe Biden has made it clear that he will not intervene in his son Hunter Biden’s recent legal troubles. Hunter Biden was found guilty of lying about his drug use when purchasing a revolver in 2018. Despite facing up to 25 years in prison, President Biden has stated that he will not pardon or reduce his son’s sentence.
During the G7 summit in Italy, President Biden emphasized that he respects the jury’s decision and will not be using his presidential powers to commute his son’s sentence. This decision comes after White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on the matter prior to the verdict.
It is important to note that US presidents have the authority to commute sentences for federal offenses, but not for state-level cases. Commuting a sentence would result in a lesser punishment while keeping the conviction on record. However, President Biden has made it clear that he will not be taking any action to reduce Hunter Biden’s sentence.
President Biden expressed pride in his son’s recovery from addiction and described Hunter as one of the brightest and most decent individuals he knows. Despite the legal challenges his son is facing, President Biden remains firm in his decision not to intervene.
Looking ahead, there is speculation about whether former President Donald Trump, if re-elected, would attempt to use his pardon power in his own federal criminal cases. This raises questions among legal experts and constitutional scholars about the extent of a president’s ability to pardon themselves.
In conclusion, President Biden’s stance on not pardoning or reducing Hunter Biden’s sentence reflects his commitment to upholding the legal process and respecting the decisions made by the judiciary. The situation also sheds light on the complexities of presidential pardon powers and the implications they may have in high-profile cases.