Joe Biden has issued a ‘full and unconditional pardon’ for his son Hunter, on various tax charges. Image: Getty images
(The Post News)- On Sunday, Hunter Biden’s legal team submitted motions in both Los Angeles and Delaware, requesting the judges overseeing his gun and tax cases to promptly dismiss them, referencing the pardon.
The Democratic president had earlier stated he would not grant his son clemency or reduce his punishment following convictions in the two federal cases in Delaware and California. The action occurs weeks prior to Hunter Biden facing his sentence following his trial conviction in the firearm case and his guilty plea regarding tax offenses, and less than two months before President-elect Donald Trump is expected to come back to the White House.
In June, Hunter Biden was found guilty in a federal court in Delaware of three felonies related to buying a gun in 2018, as prosecutors claimed he falsely asserted on a federal form that he was not abusing drugs or addicted to them. He was scheduled to go to trial in September for the California case that accused him of not paying at least $1.4 million in taxes. However, he consented to plead guilty to misdemeanor and felony charges in an unexpected decision just hours before jury selection was scheduled to start.
David Weiss, the U.S. attorney in Delaware appointed by Trump, who arranged the plea agreement, was later designated as a special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland to gain greater independence in prosecuting the president’s son. Hunter Biden stated he was entering a guilty plea in that case to protect his family from further pain and humiliation after the gun trial revealed scandalous information regarding his battle with crack cocaine addiction. The tax offenses could lead to a maximum of 17 years in prison, while the gun offenses carry penalties of up to 25 years; however, federal sentencing guidelines were likely to recommend significantly shorter sentences, and there was a chance he might escape prison altogether.
Hunter Biden was expected to receive his sentence this month in the two federal cases, initiated by the special counsel after a plea agreement with prosecutors that likely would have saved him from imprisonment collapsed under judicial review. According to the initial agreement, Hunter was set to admit guilt for misdemeanor tax violations and would have evaded prosecution in the firearms case, provided he remained trouble-free for two years.
Meanwhile, in his last weeks as president, Trump granted clemency to Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, along with several associates found guilty in special counsel Robert Mueller’s inquiry into Russia. Over the weekend, Trump revealed his intention to nominate the senior Kushner as the US ambassador to France in his forthcoming administration.
About the Author
Discover more from The Post News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
