Joe Biden stated in an interview Thursday that he will accept the verdict in his son Hunter Biden‘s criminal trial and will not invoke his presidential power to pardon him if convicted. Biden made these remarks during an interview with ABC News in Normandy, France, where the 81-year-old Democrat participated in a ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
When questioned whether he would rule out a pardon for his son, who faces three federal gun-related charges in Delaware, Biden responded affirmatively, “Yes.” He also confirmed that he would accept the outcome of the jury trial, a historic first for a sitting president’s offspring.
The White House had previously stated Biden would not apply his pardon power to Hunter Biden. “I’ve been very clear; the president is not going to pardon his son,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in December. Hunter Biden is also set to stand trial on federal tax charges in September.
“As the President, I don’t and won’t comment on pending federal cases, but as a Dad, I have boundless love for my son, confidence in him, and respect for his strength,” Biden said when the trial began on Monday. “Our family has been through a lot, and Jill and I will continue to be there for Hunter with our love and support.”
In the same interview, President Biden criticized former President Donald J. Trump for refusing to accept a biased New York jury’s decision that found him guilty of 34 charges of falsifying business records. Biden accused Trump of attempting to “undermine” the rule of law. “He got a fair trial. The jury spoke,” Biden stated, despite the prosecution’s dubious legal theory and the case being overseen by a corrupt, Democrat–aligned judge.