President Joe Biden will not pardon Hunter Biden if he’s convicted on federal charges, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday.
Asked during the daily briefing if the president would pardon or commute his son’s sentence if he gets convicted on the gun charges against him, Jean-Pierre told reporters he would not. It’s the first time the White House has explicitly said a potential pardon is not on the table following Hunter Biden’s indictment this week.
In her response, Jean-Pierre noted that she answered a similar question after the president’s son was first hit with a felony gun charge.
Actually, in that scenario, it would be more important than ever, assuming Trump was taking office. Biden muddying the waters with inappropriate pardons would weaken any attempt by the courts to stop Trump from pardoning himself.
It wouldn’t weaken it unless the court tried and failed to stop it. Someone would have to sue Biden for it and I’m unsure there’s a party with standing.