US President Joe Biden said on Thursday that he will not use his presidential powers to lessen the eventual sentence that his son Hunter will receive for his federal felony conviction on gun crimes.
Biden, following the conclusion of a news conference held at the Group of Seven (G7) summit of the world’s wealthiest democracies, responded he would not when asked whether he plans to commute the sentence for his son.
Hunter Biden’s sentencing date has not been set, and the three counts carry up to 25 years in prison.
Commuting Hunter Biden’s sentence would prevent him from serving time in prison or other legal consequences. A pardon would expunge the felony conviction completely.
“I’m extremely proud of my son Hunter. He has overcome an addiction. He is one of the brightest most decent men I know,” Biden said earlier during the news conference on Thursday. “I abide by the jury decision. I will do that and I will not pardon him.”
The verdict came as Biden faces a tough re-election battle against Trump, who himself recently became the first former president to become a convicted felon.
Trump was found guilty by a New York jury of breaching election law by lying about hush money payments to a porn star.
Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse and Bloomberg