(Headline USA) The White House claimed this week there is “no possibility” that President Joe Biden would pardon his son, Hunter Biden, who is facing federal charges for tax evasion and is under investigation for illegally operating as a foreign agent.
During a press conference on Thursday, Fox News reporter Mark Meredith asked White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre whether there is “any possibility that the president would end up pardoning his son.”
“No,” Jean-Pierre replied.
Karine Jean-Pierre says there is "no" possibility Joe Biden will pardon his son Hunter pic.twitter.com/eDFSxEyCGL
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 27, 2023
When Meredith attempted to press her further, Jean-Pierre snapped: “I just said no. I just answered.”
This answer is much different than the one the White House gave last year. Asked about whether a presidential pardon would be a possibility for Hunter, former White House communications director Kate Bedingfield refused to rule it out.
“That’s not a hypothetical I’m going to entertain,” she said.
Critics have pointed out that Joe Biden doesn’t need to issue a pardon for Hunter since his Justice Department is already busy trying to exonerate him.
“Why would he need to? His own DOJ just tried to slip a blanket immunity deal past a federal judge,” conservative commentator Stephen Miller tweeted.
American Spectator publisher Melissa Mackenzie tweeted, “Uh huh. That’s because they’re counting on the fact that there’s no possibility he gets more than a wrist-slap.”
Others argued Jean-Pierre was being dishonest.
“No one actually believes Karine Jean-Pierre here,” said Steve Guest.
New York Post columnist Miranda Devine agreed: “Pin that on the wall.”
Hunter Biden appeared in court this week and was expected to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges as part of a sweetheart plea deal brokered for him by the DOJ. However, the plea fell apart after the judge presiding over the case discovered that Hunter is also currently under investigation for possible violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
