'Of course': Jill Biden says she supports President Biden's pardon of Hunter

First lady Jill Biden on Monday declared her support for President Joe Biden's decision to pardon Hunter Biden.

"Of course I support the pardon of my son," the first lady said in response to a CNN reporter's question after her prepared remarks at a holiday event, according to a White House pool report.

President Biden announced Sunday he would pardon his son Hunter Biden, who was convicted of federal gun and tax charges in two separate cases earlier this year. He said his son had been "selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted."

First lady Jill Biden is Hunter Biden's stepmother. She spent her birthday this year sitting in on Hunter Biden's gun charges trial in Delaware.

More: Trump links Hunter Biden's pardon to Jan. 6 rioters

Why was Hunter Biden pardoned?

President Biden previously said he would not pardon his son. But in announcing his pardon Sunday, the president alleged his son's case was politicized.

In June, Hunter Biden was convicted in a case over whether he lied about being addicted to drugs while buying a gun in 2018. He was found guilty on the following charges:

• Lying on a federal screening form about his drug use

• Lying to a gun dealer

• Possessing a gun despite restrictions for people addicted to drugs

Just before another federal trial was scheduled to start in September, Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to three felonies and six misdemeanors that alleged he failed to pay $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019.

The sentencing for the cases was expected to occur in the coming weeks.

The pardon also covered any "offenses" he may have committed from Jan. 1, 2014 through Dec. 1, 2024.

Hunter Biden reacted to the pardon by saying he has "admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction – mistakes that have been exploited to publicly humiliate and shame me and my family for political sport."

Contributing: Xerxes Wilson, Bart Jansen, Rebecca Morin, Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy

Kinsey Crowley is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected], and follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jill Biden on Hunter Biden: 'Of course I support' presidential pardon