Here’s how a Hunter Biden pardon could play out if Joe went back on his promise to accept the verdict

President Joe Biden ruled out pardoning his son, and the president has said he would respect the outcome of the jury trial, which marked the first-ever criminal proceedings of the son of a sitting US president.

But conservative commentators and social media critics have questioned whether the president will stand by his statements after his son’s conviction on three gun counts that could put him in prison for up to 25 years.

If Biden did pardon Hunter, he would be relying on longstanding executive authority that has been exercised dozens of times – but it would be an unprecedented and potentially politically devistating decision from a president who has repeatedly pledged that no one is above the law.

“I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal,” he said on Tuesday after the verdict was announced. “Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that.”

One week earlier, when asked whether he would respect the trial’s outcome, the president said “yes.” And asked if he had ruled out pardoning his son, the president also said “yes.”

In December, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre insisted that “the president is not going to pardon his son.”

Under the Constitution, “The President … shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.”

The president has authority to grant a pardon to anyone convicted in federal court or by a military court martial. A pardon would block any further punishment for the forgiven offense, and would effectively prevent any further consequences of a criminal conviction.

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