President Joe Biden Might Commute Son’s Pending Sentence

Daily Report June 16,2024

The White House has not ruled out the possibility of commuting President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden’s sentence following his recent gun-related conviction.

While Biden had previously ruled out a pardon on Hunter’s case, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on whether the president would commute his son’s sentence following his conviction. While speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Jean-Pierre pointed out that no decision can be made until a sentencing date is set.

“I haven’t spoken to the president about this since the verdict came out, and as we all know, the sentencing hasn’t even been scheduled yet. I don’t have anything beyond that,” Jean-Pierre told reporters.

Following Hunter’s guilty verdict, Biden issued a statement saying that he would accept the outcome of the case and would continue to respect the judicial process. In an interview last week, the president made it clear that he will not pardon his son.

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On Tuesday, Hunter was convicted on all three federal felony gun charges, which included falsely filling out a federal form, denying he was addicted to drugs when he purchased a firearm and possessing a firearm illegally while being addicted to drugs.

Hunter faces up to 25 years in prison and a maximum of $750,000 in fines. Though, as a first-time offender, he is likely to receive a shorter sentence. The conviction marks the first time the son of a sitting president has been found guilty of a crime.

U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, the presiding judge over Hunter’s case, has not set a sentencing date. Meanwhile, Noreika has a history of giving tough sentences. Recently, she gave a one-year sentence to another defendant in a similar gun case despite the defense requesting only six months.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Wednesday declined to rule out whether President Joe Biden will commute his son Hunter Biden's sentence following his conviction on federal felony charges. MORE: https://t.co/8NqbQNM5fw pic.twitter.com/7qrl4OzEBZ

— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) June 12, 2024

According to the Department of Justice, a pardon granted by the president is an expression of forgiveness. The president awards pardons to individuals who have demonstrated remorse for their actions and have accepted responsibility for their convictions.

On the other hand, a commutation of a sentence is a sentence reduction, either full or partial. However, it does not change the conviction, imply innocence, or remove civil disabilities.