President Biden Rules Out Pardoning Hunter Biden in Case of Conviction
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed that President Joe Biden will not pardon his son, Hunter Biden, if he is convicted on the federal charges he is currently facing. This statement came in response to a question during the daily briefing, marking the first time the White House has explicitly stated that a potential pardon is not an option following Hunter Biden’s recent indictment.
| Facts of the News |
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| White House rules out potential pardon for Hunter Biden |
| Hunter Biden faces federal charges including felony gun charge |
| New charges could lead to substantial prison time if convicted |
The recent indictment brought against Hunter Biden by special counsel David Weiss includes three counts related to possession of a gun while using narcotics. These charges are distinct from the previous ones he faced, which involved a felony charge of buying a gun while using drugs and a pair of misdemeanor tax charges. Initially, a plea agreement was in place that would recommend probation in return for a guilty plea on the tax charges, and the dismissal of the gun charge in two years if Hunter Biden adhered to the terms of a separate agreement with the prosecutors.
The new charges present a more severe scenario, with two of them carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and the third having a maximum sentence of five years. Weiss has indicated that he plans to refile or introduce new tax charges against Hunter Biden before the end of the month.
Interestingly, Jean-Pierre’s unequivocal statement contrasts with former President Donald Trump’s remarks on whether he would pardon himself if re-elected. In an upcoming interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker for “Meet the Press”, Trump deemed it “very unlikely” that he would grant himself a pardon, despite facing charges in two separate cases brought by special counsel Jack Smith.
| Special Counsel Defined |
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| A special counsel is a prosecutor appointed to investigate, and potentially prosecute, a particular case of suspected wrongdoing for which a conflict of interest exists for the usual prosecuting authority. Other jurisdictions use terms such as special prosecutor or independent counsel to refer to similar officers. Learn more about the special counsel on Wikipedia. |
What are the new charges Hunter Biden is facing?
Hunter Biden has been indicted on three counts related to possession of a gun while using narcotics. The charges are severe, with two carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and the third a maximum of five years. These charges are distinct from the earlier felony gun charge and misdemeanor tax charges he faced.
What did the White House say about the possibility of pardoning Hunter Biden?
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed that President Joe Biden has ruled out the possibility of pardoning his son, Hunter Biden, if he is convicted on the federal charges he is currently facing. This marks the first time the White House has explicitly stated that a pardon is not an option.
How do Trump’s views on pardoning himself compare to Biden’s stance on pardoning his son?
While President Biden has clearly ruled out pardoning his son, former President Donald Trump has been more ambiguous about the possibility of pardoning himself if re-elected. In an upcoming interview, Trump stated it was “very unlikely” he would pardon himself, despite facing charges in two separate cases.
Source: NBC News