(Fasano) President Joe Biden said Thursday that he will not use his presidential powers to reduce the sentence that will be imposed on his son Hunter following his federal conviction for illegal possession of a firearm.
When asked by reporters on Thursday if he would consider commuting his son’s sentence, the US president replied that he would not. The press conference was held during the G7 summit in Italy.
Hunter Biden was convicted Tuesday by a jury in Delaware of lying on a gun purchase form by claiming he was not illegally using drugs or addicted to drugs, and of having illegally possessed the weapon for 11 days.
The judge who presided over the jury trial did not say Tuesday when she would impose the sentence. All three counts carry a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
But it is now up to federal district judge Maryellen Noreika, appointed to the bench by former Republican President Donald Trump, to decide whether Hunter Biden will actually serve prison time in the case.
President Biden’s statement Thursday in Italy comes after the day before, the White House had refused to rule out a possible commutation of Hunter Biden’s sentence. The president and the White House have said for months that Mr. Biden would not pardon his son if he were convicted.
“I am extremely proud of my son Hunter. He overcame an addiction. He is one of the finest and most honest men I know, Mr. Biden said at the news conference Thursday. I respect the jury’s decision. I will and I will not grant him a presidential pardon.