<p>President Joe Biden said Thursday that he would not commute the sentence of his son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted this week on three federal felony counts for lying on a federal form about his drug addiction when he bought a handgun in 2018.</p><p>In response to a question at the Group of 7 summit in Italy, Biden reiterated his earlier position that he would not pardon his son.</p><p>“I’m extremely proud of my son Hunter,” Biden said. “He has overcome addiction. He’s one of the brightest, most decent men I know. I am satisfied that I’m not going to do anything. I said I’d abide by the jury decision. I will do that.”</p><p>As he was leaving the stage, Biden was asked whether he would use his authority to issue a commutation, which would leave the guilty verdict intact but wipe out some or all of the punishment. He responded, “No.”</p><p>Hunter Biden, whose sentencing date has not been set, faces up to 25 years in prison on the gun charges, although sentencing guidelines call for a fraction of that penalty.</p>.Hunter Biden, ironic icon.<p>Legal analysts said it was possible that the president’s son could receive a year or less behind bars or even probation; first-time offenders who did not use weapons for a violent crime typically receive much lighter sentences.</p><p>On Wednesday, a White House spokesperson did not rule out the possibility that Joe Biden might commute his son’s sentence, saying she had not spoken with the president about the matter yet.</p><p>Among those in the crowd as Biden addressed his son’s case publicly for the first time since the verdict were two of Hunter Biden’s daughters.</p><p>Hunter Biden is scheduled to go on trial in Los Angeles in September on charges that he evaded a tax assessment, failed to file and pay taxes, and filed a false or fraudulent tax return. It is considered the more serious case against him.</p>
<p>President Joe Biden said Thursday that he would not commute the sentence of his son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted this week on three federal felony counts for lying on a federal form about his drug addiction when he bought a handgun in 2018.</p><p>In response to a question at the Group of 7 summit in Italy, Biden reiterated his earlier position that he would not pardon his son.</p><p>“I’m extremely proud of my son Hunter,” Biden said. “He has overcome addiction. He’s one of the brightest, most decent men I know. I am satisfied that I’m not going to do anything. I said I’d abide by the jury decision. I will do that.”</p><p>As he was leaving the stage, Biden was asked whether he would use his authority to issue a commutation, which would leave the guilty verdict intact but wipe out some or all of the punishment. He responded, “No.”</p><p>Hunter Biden, whose sentencing date has not been set, faces up to 25 years in prison on the gun charges, although sentencing guidelines call for a fraction of that penalty.</p>.Hunter Biden, ironic icon.<p>Legal analysts said it was possible that the president’s son could receive a year or less behind bars or even probation; first-time offenders who did not use weapons for a violent crime typically receive much lighter sentences.</p><p>On Wednesday, a White House spokesperson did not rule out the possibility that Joe Biden might commute his son’s sentence, saying she had not spoken with the president about the matter yet.</p><p>Among those in the crowd as Biden addressed his son’s case publicly for the first time since the verdict were two of Hunter Biden’s daughters.</p><p>Hunter Biden is scheduled to go on trial in Los Angeles in September on charges that he evaded a tax assessment, failed to file and pay taxes, and filed a false or fraudulent tax return. It is considered the more serious case against him.</p>