President says he won't pardon Hunter Biden

President Joe Biden said Thursday that he was “satisfied” that his son Hunter received a fair trial before a jury convicted him this week on three felony gun charges.

Biden, speaking along the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy, also reiterated his pre-verdict declaration that he would not pardon his son, who could face up to 25 years in prison.

“I am not going to do anything,” said Biden, as he stood alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “I will abide by the jury’s decision.”

Biden’s answers were his first about his son’s conviction, an event that followed him to the international summit even if its impact on the election at home remains uncertain. He also again stressed that was “extremely proud” of his son, whom he said has “overcome an addiction” to drugs.

Reporters shouted questions to Biden Thursday about a possible commutation of his son’s eventual sentence and the president appeared to say “no.” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre did not address questions aboard Air Force One on the way to the summit the day before if Biden would consider a commutation.

Biden rushed home to Wilmington immediately after Tuesday’s verdict, squeezing in a night with his son and family before flying to the summit the next morning. Aides have expressed private worry about the personal toll on the 81-year-old president halfway around the world from his surviving son. Biden was expected to check on his son every day, as is his custom.

Hunter Biden became the first child of a sitting president to be convicted of a crime. He was offered a plea deal that would have spared him prison time before it fell apart last July, just minutes before it was set to become official. Now, his sentencing date will likely come this fall.

Biden’s team has held a series of conversations this week at their campaign headquarters to discuss the potential aftershocks from the verdict, according to three Biden officials familiar with internal dynamics who were granted anonymity to relay details of them. The general belief among Biden aides is that it would not change the trajectory of the race but would likely become a focal point for former President Donald Trump when the two men meet for their first debate later this month.

Ultimately, Biden’s top advisers believe that Hunter Biden’s issues are already baked into the 2024 election, with polls consistently showing attacks on Hunter Biden and a recent impeachment inquiry into the president having little impact.

Trump was convicted last month in his criminal hush money trial in New York and will be sentenced next month. Biden’s words of respect for the legal system stand in stark contrast to Trump’s relentless criticism of it.