President Biden Refuses to Pardon His Son or Commute His Sentence

President Joe Biden publicly refused to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, or to commute his currently-undecided sentence for federal gun crimes.

Key Quotes: “I’m extremely proud of my son, Hunter. He’s one of the greatest, most decent men I know, and I am satisfied that I’m not going to do anything I said,” the President stated. “I said I’d abide by the jury decision. I will do that and I will not pardon him.” Asked if a commutation was on the table, Biden said, “No.”

For Context: Hunter Biden could face up to 25 years in jail, but he could also merely receive probation. He faces a second federal trial in September for allegations of failing to pay $1.4 million in federal taxes on overseas income between 2016 and 2019.

How the Media Covered It: Coverage was common across the spectrum, with some outlets reflecting partisan attitudes about the Bidens. The Daily Wire (Right bias) highlighted a Trump advisor who said Hunter’s “dad made him ‘the bag man,’” implying both were corrupt. The New York Post (Lean Right bias), which has for years published partially nude photos of Hunter taken from his laptop, highlighted that Joe Biden called him “one of the brightest, most decent men,” potentially poking fun at the contrast between the quote and reality. Like the Post, some coverage from left-rated outlets prominently noted that the elder Biden said he was “proud” of his son. This summary was developed with the help of AllSides' AI technology.