WASHINGTON — Attorneys for Hunter Biden are pushing for a presidential pardon for President Joe Biden’s son, arguing that his criminal convictions for gun and tax offenses are politically tainted. With his sentencing set to occur in the coming weeks, Hunter Biden’s legal team fears that the re-election of Donald Trump could lead to further legal challenges arguing Trump might weaponize the justice system against him.
The detailed plea for clemency spans a 52-page document released by his defense team entitled “The Political Prosecutions of Hunter Biden.” It suggests that the charges, which could land Biden up to 17 years in prison and fines summing $1.3 million, were brought under undue political pressure and claims they were exacerbated by his father’s political positioning.
Hunter was convicted in June by a Delaware jury on three federal charges dating back to a 2018 gun purchase, including false statements regarding his drug use on a federal form, and illegal possession of a firearm. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to nine tax evasion charges in California after allegations of failing to pay $1.4 million in due taxes, despite having settled his back taxes with interest and penalties in 2021.
Special counsel David Weiss, appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in August 2023, has been leading the investigation into Hunter Biden. This investigation team, staffed by attorneys from the Biden administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ), has drawn suspicion from Hunter Biden’s team regarding the impartiality and potential political motivations behind the charges.
The defense’s document also highlights Donald Trump’s public disdain toward Hunter Biden and suggests that Trump’s return to the presidency could exacerbate legal actions against him due to personal animus. Trump has publicly indicated he may pursue aggressive legal actions not just against Hunter Biden but also his father, whom he referred to as leading a “crime family.”
Historically, the Biden family’s integrity has been questioned, particularly following the emergence of a story regarding a laptop allegedly left by Hunter at a repair shop, which contained sensitive and potentially damaging information. It sparked widespread speculation about the Biden family’s use of their name to leverage political influence. This was compounded by the selective suppression of the story, which was later verified as truthful by the DOJ in January, following a lengthy investigation.
Despite the controversy and attacks, President Joe Biden has stated that he will not pardon his son for the convictions before leaving office. Ironically, Trump, despite his harsh criticisms, suggested reconciliation by leaving the door open for a potential pardon for Hunter Biden during his next term.
This incident underscores President Trump’s history of controversial statements concerning his political adversaries, illustrated by his past claims that he could have imprisoned former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over her mishandling of classified information.
As the nation braces for an impending change in administration, the integrity and independence of the justice system remain pivotal topics of public concern, drawing lines between political retribution and legitimate legal scrutiny.
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