In a recent development, the White House has signaled that it is not ruling out the possibility of a potential commutation for Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, who was recently convicted on three federal gun crimes. The decision regarding the commutation could ultimately rest in the hands of U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, who has yet to schedule a sentencing date.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the matter during a press briefing aboard Air Force One as President Biden traveled to the Group of Seven summit in Italy. Jean-Pierre mentioned that the sentencing has not been scheduled yet, and she has not discussed the issue with the president since the verdict was delivered.

Despite ruling out the possibility of a pardon for Hunter Biden in a previous ABC News interview, President Biden's stance on commutation remains unclear. Jean-Pierre stated that she doesn't have any additional information on the subject beyond the president's previous remarks.

It is important to note the distinction between a pardon and a commutation. While a pardon forgives a criminal offense and may restore certain rights such as voting, a commutation reduces the sentence but maintains the conviction.

This recent position from the White House marks a shift from what was previously stated in September when Jean-Pierre responded to a question regarding the potential pardon or commutation for Hunter Biden by unequivocally saying, "no."

Hunter Biden was convicted on charges of lying on a mandatory gun purchase form, falsely claiming that he was not illegally using or addicted to drugs, and possessing the firearm unlawfully for 11 days. These three counts carry a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

The fate of whether Hunter Biden will serve any time behind bars will ultimately be determined by U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was nominated by former Republican President Donald Trump. As of now, the judge has not set a date for sentencing, leaving the potential commutation decision in suspense.

It remains to be seen how this development will unfold in the coming months, as the Biden administration navigates the complex legal proceedings surrounding Hunter Biden's conviction.