President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden leave Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Johns Island, S.C., on Aug. 13, 2022.Photo:AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta
AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta
PresidentJoe Bidenhas expressed his continued love for sonHunter Bidenamid a federal case involving the 53-year-old’s taxes and firearm possession — but that doesn’t mean he’ll fight his son’s legal battles.
During a press briefing on Thursday, a reporter asked White House press secretaryKarine Jean-Pierreif President Biden, 80, would ever consider using his power to grant executive clemency to issue a pardon for Hunter, to which she decisively responded, “No.”
At another point in the briefing, Jean-Pierre said, “The Department of Justice is independent. We give them the space to be independent. And we respect the rule of law.”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/Shutterstock
In June, Hunter was indicted following a years-long federal investigation into his foreign business dealings, which began during PresidentDonald Trump’s administration. The investigation reportedly evolved over time,focusing also on Hunter’s income taxesand paperwork he used to purchase a firearm in 2018, on which he denied being “an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug or any other controlled substance” despite publicly admitting to struggles with addiction.
Hunter was ultimately charged with two misdemeanor counts of failing to pay federal income tax and a felony count of illegally possessing a weapon.
Hunter Biden leaves the White House East Room after the Presidential Medals of Freedom awards ceremony on July 7, 2022.Sipa via AP Images
Sipa via AP Images
When a reporter asked Jean-Pierre about the president’s reaction to Hunter’s chaotic arraignment on Wednesday, she refused to offer any specifics.
Jean-Pierre added, “The president and the first lady, they love their son and they support him as he is working to rebuild his life.”
source: people.com
