Here are the times that Biden, the White House said they wouldn’t pardon Hunter

President Biden and the White House have emphatically insisted the president wouldn’t pardon his son, Hunter Biden.

But all of that changed Sunday, when Biden announced he would indeed grant leniency on Hunter, who was convicted on gun charges and pleaded guilty to federal tax charges and was facing a sentencing this month.

The president and his aides had been asked numerous times if a Hunter Biden pardon was being considered, decisively answering "no" on a multitude of occasions for more than a year.

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Here are the times that the president and his aides said Hunter wouldn’t be pardoned.

Nov. 7, 2024

Just after the election, when Trump beat Vice President Harris to become the 47th president, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated there were no plans to pardon Hunter.

Jean-Pierre was questioned on if the president had any intention of pardoning his son, replying, “We've been asked that question multiple times.”

“Our answer stands, which is no,” Jean-Pierre said.

When asked about the possibility of a commutation, Jean-Pierre said, “That’s not what we’re going to do.”

Sept. 5, 2024

In September, Hunter Biden changed his plea to guilty in a federal case after being accused of withholding $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019. Jean-Pierre at that time was questioned on whether that changes the president’s calculus on pardoning his son.

“It’s no. It’s still no,” she said.

July 26, 2024

Jean-Pierre insisted several times in July that the president would not pardon his son or commute his sentence after he was found guilty by a jury on gun charges.

“It’s still — it's still a no. It's still a no,” she said.

A reporter followed up with, “It will always be a no?”

“It’s still a no. It will be a no. It — it is a no. And I don't have anything else to add. Will he pardon his son? No,” Jean-Pierre said.

June 13, 2024

A reporter asked Biden in June, during a press conference alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, if he thought his son was able to get a fair trial. At the time, Biden insisted he wouldn’t pardon his son.

“With regard to the question regarding the family, I'm extremely proud of my son, Hunter. He has overcome an addiction. He is, he's one of the brightest, most decent men I know. And I am satisfied that … I’m not going to do anything,” Biden said, “I said I’d abide by the jury decision, and I will do that. And I will not pardon him.”

June 12, 2024

Just after the younger Biden’s conviction, Jean-Pierre was asked if a commutation was on the table and didn’t rule it out.

She pointed to Biden’s comments during an interview six days prior, adding, “I don't have anything beyond what the President said. He's been very clear about this.”

June 11, 2024

The president released a statement shortly after Hunter Biden was found guilty of three charges relating to a 2018 gun purchase, saying he would accept the outcome of his son’s conviction.

“As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad. I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today,” Biden said. “As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.”

June 6, 2024

Biden sat for an interview with ABC’s David Muir while in Normandy, France, and said he will accept the jury’s outcome in his son’s trial.

Muir at one point asked, “Have you ruled out a pardon for your son?” and the president replied, “yes.”

Dec. 8, 2023

In the wake of tax charges brought against Hunter Biden in California in December of last year, Jean-Pierre said the president has not changed his mind about a pardon.

“Nothing has changed. That is still the case,” she said.

Sept. 15, 2023

When prosecutors in Delaware brought three gun-related charges against Hunter Biden, Jean-Pierre said Biden would not be pardoning his son if he’s convicted.

“I've answered this question before; it was asked of me not too long ago, a couple of weeks ago. And I was very clear, and I said no,” she said.

July 27, 2023

Just one month after Hunter Biden was found guilty on three gun charges, Jean-Pierre was asked if there was any possibility the president would end up pardoning his son.

Jean-Pierre was asked, "From presidential perspective, is there any possibility that the president would end up pardoning his son?"

She responded "no."

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