Joe Biden Reveals Whether He Would Pardon Hunter

President Joe Biden on Thursday said he would not use his executive power to pardon his son Hunter Biden, who stands trial on felony gun charges.

Hunter Biden, the president's only living son, is the first child of a U.S. sitting president to be criminally charged. He faces three felony counts related to a 2018 gun purchase and possession of the gun while using narcotics. Prosecutors argue that he lied on federal documents about his drug use, which would have barred him from legally obtaining a firearm. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

In a Thursday interview with ABC News host David Muir, the president was asked if he would accept the outcome of his son's trial. Biden replied, "Yes."

He was then asked if he would rule out the possibility of pardoning his son if found guilty, to which Biden again replied, "Yes," affirming that he would not use his executive privilege to exonerate his son. Presidents can issue pardons for federal crimes.

The White House in December also said that the president would avoid taking such action. "I've been very clear; the president is not going to pardon his son," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a December 13, 2023, press briefing.

Ahead of trial, on Monday, Biden issued a public statement in support of his son, saying, "I am the President, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today." He added, "As the President, I don't and won't comment on pending federal cases, but as a Dad, I have boundless love for my son, confidence in him, and respect for his strength."

Newsweek reached out to Hunter Biden's legal team and President Biden's press team for comment via email Thursday.

In an interview for World News Tonight with David Muir, Biden also spoke about former president and presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump's recent conviction, with Biden saying Trump is "trying to undermine" the legal system, adding that the ex-president "got a fair trial."

On May 30, a New York jury found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money paid to adult-film star Stormy Daniels by Trump's then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, before the 2016 presidential election. The verdict makes Trump the first former president convicted of a felony.

Daniels alleged she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, which he denies. Trump has maintained his innocence and says the case is politically motivated. His legal team says it will fight the case, which will likely include an appeal.

The former president now faces possible jail time, which will be determined at his July 11 sentencing, just days before the Republican National Convention, where he is expected to accept the party's nomination.

On Thursday, the fourth day of Hunter Biden's trial in Wilmington, Delaware, the prosecution's key witness, Hallie Biden, Hunter Biden's brother Beau's widow, took the stand. Hallie and Hunter Biden had a romantic relationship after Beau's death.

On the stand, she testified about cleaning out Hunter Biden's truck and finding the gun and some drug paraphernalia in 2018. She told the jury, "I panicked and wanted to get rid of it." Hallie Biden disposed of the gun in question in a trash can at a grocery store market.

Several witnesses have testified in the prosecution's case, including an FBI agent, police officers, family members, romantic partners and the individual who found the gun.

It is unknown exactly how long the trial will last, but it is expected to include around two weeks of testimony and statements. Then, as in Trump's recent criminal hush money case, the jury will deliberate and determine a verdict for the president's 54-year-old son.

Update 06/06/24, 5 p.m. ET: This article has been updated to include more information.