Following President Biden’s pardon of Hunter Biden on Sunday, the federal judges overseeing his criminal tax and gun cases were asked to dismiss those cases. Shortly after the president’s announcement, Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, submitted a formal notice of the pardon for both cases, which included a sworn declaration from Hunter Biden affirming his acceptance of the pardon.
Lowell stated in his communication to both judges that “dismissal of the Indictment with prejudice and adjourning any future proceedings and entry judgment in this matter is now required,” pointing out that courts have previously dismissed cases following presidential pardons.
Presidential pardon shields Hunter Biden from federal charges since 2014
Despite having previously ruled out the possibility, the president revealed on Sunday evening that he had signed a pardon for his son. This pardon specifically encompasses both of Hunter Biden’s ongoing prosecutions and also protects him from any federal offenses committed since January 1, 2014.
In Delaware, a jury convicted Hunter Biden of three felonies related to his 2018 purchase and possession of a revolver while using drugs. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to nine tax charges in California to avoid trial in a separate case pursued by special counsel David Weiss. Both of Hunter Biden’s sentencing hearings were scheduled to occur in approximately two weeks.
The president expressed his reasoning in the announcement: “Here’s the truth: I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice — and once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further.” He added, “I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision.”
