CNN anchor Chris Wallace and commentator Jonah Goldberg both questioned President Biden’s pledge not to pardon his son Hunter if he is convicted of federal firearms charges.
last week, ABC News Anchorman David Muir asked Biden whether he would pardon his 54-year-old son, who is charged with lying on a federal gun purchase application to obtain the weapon in the first place and three counts of illegally possessing a gun while addicted to crack cocaine.
Muir asked whether he would accept the jury’s findings if Hunter was found guilty and whether he would “rule out a pardon” for him. The president answered both questions simply, “Yes.”
On Saturday, Goldberg joined a panel on CNN’s “The Chris Wallace Show” with Lulu Garcia-Navarro, Rayhan Salam and Kara Swisher to discuss Biden’s pledges.
Garcia-Navarro repeated the president’s pledge not to pardon his son, but Wallace quickly responded, “Let’s wait and see what happens if he loses.”
“Yes, but he said so. He said he would,” Garcia Novarro responded.
“What was he going to say? He’s got to say it,” Wallace said.
The exchange seemed to foreshadow Goldberg’s greater skepticism of Biden’s comments.
“We don’t know if Hunter Biden will actually be found guilty, I think he will,” Goldberg said. “Even if he is found guilty, we don’t know if he will actually serve prison time in this case or any subsequent tax cases. If he does serve prison time, Joe Biden will likely pardon his son after the election and avoid prison time, despite your faith in Joe Biden’s word.”
Wallace did not press Goldberg for reasons why he thought the president would pardon his son, instead moving on to speculate about other guests.
Hunter Biden’s legal team concluded their case on Monday, but his eldest son opted not to testify at the trial.
Lead attorney Abe Lowell called just three witnesses, including Hunter’s eldest daughter, Naomi, before the defense’s arguments concluded Monday. According to NBC News:.
The prosecution is expected to call rebuttal witnesses, after which both sides will move to closing arguments.
If convicted, Hunter faces up to 25 years in prison, though that term doesn’t apply to first-time offenders like him and a judge could decide not to give him any prison time at all.
President Biden released a written statement on the first day of his son’s trial, saying:[a]”As president, I do not and will not comment on pending federal litigation,” he said, while praising Hunter as “inspirational.”
“I have endless love and faith for my son and admiration for his strength,” the 81-year-old added. “Our family has been through a lot together, and Jill and I will continue to offer our love and support to Hunter and his family.”
