Bob Woodward says Joe Biden likely to pardon son

Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward has predicted that President Joe Biden will pardon his son Hunter Biden for crimes of which he has been convicted and those to which he has pleaded guilty before he leaves office in January.

Woodward said he is aware as a result of research for his forthcoming book War that Hunter Biden's future is very much on the president's mind and that he has talked about a pardon with close friends.

"He worries about, where is this going to go? He has said he would not pardon him. There are a couple of trials coming up. Quite frankly, I know enough about Biden I don't believe that. I think he will pardon his son," Woodward told Stephen Colbert of The Late Show.

Biden has also said he fears his son will relapse into drug use due to the stress of his legal problems.

Presidents have the power to pardon or commute the prison sentence of anyone they wish, family members included.

Biden may harm his party's reputation by granting his son a pardon, considering that Hunter Biden has already been convicted on several charges, but that does not mean he will refrain from taking such action.