FASANO — American President Joe Biden ruled out on Thursday using his presidential powers to commute the eventual sentence that his son Hunter, who was found guilty of illegal possession of a firearm.
At the end of a press conference in Italy on the occasion of a meeting of the Group of Seven, Biden was asked if he will commute any sentence for his son, and he responded no. Hunter Biden’s sentencing date has not been set and all three charges carry up to 25 years in prison and a $750,000 fine.
“I am extremely proud of my son Hunter. He has overcome an addiction. He is one of the brightest, most decent men I know,” Biden said. “I will respect the jury’s decision. “I will do that and I will not pardon him.”
Whether Hunter Biden actually serves time behind bars will depend on U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika. But experts believe it is unlikely that she will go to jail because she does not have a criminal record.
Biden’s comments came a day after the White House refused to rule out a possible commutation for Hunter Biden. Both the president and the White House have said for months that Biden will not grant a pardon to his son.
“Culpable”
Biden’s only living son was found guilty of lying about the purchase of a firearm in 2018, when he signed a document ensuring that he did not consume drugs prohibited.
The prosecution emphasizes that Hunter, 54, “knew that he was a crack user or (that he was) dependent.” Without testifying, he pleaded not guilty. Although his attorney assured jurors that “he was no longer using drugs” at the time of purchasing the gun, testimony and evidence indicate that he committed a crime.
For his part, Joe Biden, who is seeking re-election in November, never expressed himself in detail about his son’s judicial entanglements.
Hunter is also being investigated in Congress by the Republican Party for his past as an alleged businessman.
Hunter must also appear in California in September for tax fraud in a case that is focusing the attention of conservative media at a time when his father seeks to put the spotlight on his rival, Donald Trump, the first former president of the United States to be convicted in criminal proceedings.
Source: With information from AP/AFP
