Biden says he will not pardon Hunter or commute his sentence

President Biden emphatically defended his son at a summit of world leaders here, commenting directly for the first time since Hunter Biden was convicted this week on federal gun charges, while also reiterating that he would not use his presidential powers to soften whatever penalty his son faces.

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“I’m extremely proud of my son, Hunter,” Biden said during a brief news conference at the Group of Seven meeting, as two of Hunter’s daughters, Maisy and Finnegan, watched from several feet away in the audience. “He has overcome an addiction. He’s one of the brightest, most decent men I know.”

The president reiterated that he would not pardon his son, saying he trusted the deliberations of a jury that found Hunter Biden guilty of lying on a gun-purchase form in 2018 when he checked a box saying he was not using illegal drugs.