President Biden has no plans of pardoning son Hunter Biden, White House says

Hunter Biden is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

November 7, 2024, 5:16 PM

President Joe Biden does not plan to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted on federal gun charges, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated during a press briefing on Thursday.

Hunter Biden is scheduled to be sentenced next month on the gun charges as well as federal tax-related charges in a separate case.

When asked Thursday whether the president has any intention of pardoning his son, Jean-Pierre responded, "We've been asked that question multiple times. Our answer stands, which is no."

Jean-Pierre said she didn't have comment on pardons the president intends to make at the end of his term, including any administration officials or people threatened by President-elect Donald Trump with legal action.

"I know pardons is going to be a big part of the questions that I get here over the next several weeks and a couple of months that we have," she said. "I don't have anything to share or any thought process on pardons. Once we have something to share, we certainly will share with that."

No son of a sitting president has faced a criminal trial before.

Hunter Biden attends an event celebrating the 2024 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams on the South Lawn of the White House, Sept. 30, 2024.
Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images

President Biden told ABC News anchor David Muir during an interview in June amid the Delaware trial in the gun case that he would not pardon his son.

Hunter Biden was ultimately found guilty that month on three felony counts related to his purchase of a firearm in 2018 while allegedly addicted to drugs. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 12.

In a separate case, Hunter Biden pleaded guilty in September to nine federal tax-related charges in Los Angeles, where he is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 16.