White House defends President Biden's decision to pardon his son

In the first televised press briefing since President Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced a barrage of questions from reporters.

The briefing followed a statement from the president over the weekend in which he explained his decision to issue the pardon, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Jean-Pierre reiterated the president's stance, saying, "The statement that he put out on Sunday when he made this decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, it's in his own voice. I think it takes you through his thinking. And he did. He wrestled with this."

When asked why Biden had previously stated that he would not pardon his son, Jean-Pierre argued that "circumstances have changed," citing ongoing Republican efforts to seek retribution, as well as statements from Trump-appointed law enforcement officials. "We should believe what they say," she added. Jean-Pierre also referred to Biden’s comment in the statement that the family had been through "enough" and that these shifting circumstances led the president to reconsider.

Despite the intense questioning, Jean-Pierre declined to offer a direct response when asked if the American people were owed an apology, instead urging reporters to read the president's statement. She emphasized, "He wrestled with it and made this decision. That's what I can tell the American people."

Jean-Pierre pointed to a recent poll showing that 64% of Americans supported the pardon, stating, "Sixty-four percent is nothing to sneeze at." She also highlighted that some legal experts had argued Hunter Biden was politically targeted, citing that similar charges are rarely brought without aggravating factors.

When asked about concerns regarding the president’s credibility, Jean-Pierre again referred to Biden’s statement and repeated that "virtually no one would be criminally prosecuted with these facts."

Jean-Pierre also responded to criticism from within Biden's own party, stating, "He's going to focus on the American people" when asked about the potential political ramifications of the pardon.