President Joe Biden's recent pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, has led to immediate legal action to dismiss the latter's ongoing criminal cases.
According to The Hill, following the presidential pardon, Hunter Biden's legal team has moved to have his criminal tax and gun cases dismissed.
President Biden issued the pardon for his son this past Sunday. This decision includes all pending prosecutions against Hunter, as well as any violations of U.S. law he might have committed since January 1, 2014. This comprehensive pardon arrived just weeks before scheduled sentencing hearings about these charges.
Shortly after the pardon was publicized, Hunter Biden's attorney, Abbe Lowell, took formal steps to solidify its impact in court. Lowell filed a notice in the dockets for the criminal cases against Hunter, citing his acceptance of the pardon through a sworn declaration. This filing aimed to prevent any further legal actions or trials regarding these matters.
The pardon came after President Biden had consistently denied any intentions to pardon his son over the months leading up to the sudden decision. The President described his decision as having been heavily influenced by a belief that politics had unfairly tainted the legal process against his son.
"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," President Biden explained. He defended his action by stressing the urgency and the personal agony he faced, leading to a no-delay approach once his decision was made over the weekend.
Hunter Biden had serious legal challenges ahead before the pardon. In Delaware, he was convicted on three felony charges related to the illegal possession and purchase of a revolver during a time he was using drugs in 2018.
Additionally, facing substantial tax allegations, Hunter had pled guilty in California to nine tax evasion charges in a deal that allowed him to avoid trial.
Abbe Lowell, Hunter's lawyer, stated in his court filings that existing judicial precedents following a presidential pardon necessitate dismissing the indictment with prejudice. This means that Hunter could not be tried again on the same charges. Lowell's push to adjourn any upcoming proceedings reflects a fast track to legal closure on Hunter's recent legal battles.
"Accordingly, dismissal of the Indictment with prejudice and adjourning any future proceedings and entry judgment in this matter is now required," wrote Lowell in his legal submission. This action underscores a potentially swift conclusion to a high-profile case that has captured national attention due to its political and personal implications.
President Biden hopes his decision will resonate with the public on a humane level. "I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision," he stated, indicating the personal conflict and pressures encompassing the pardon.
As Hunter Biden’s legal team works through the process of having the cases dismissed, public and media scrutiny of the pardon's appropriateness and its implications are sure to continue. The outcomes of these legal proceedings will likely have far-reaching effects, not only on Hunter Biden’s life but also on public perception of justice and political influence in America.
In conclusion, President Biden's pardon of Hunter Biden, covering all allegations and legal actions against him since January 1, 2014, led to the immediate legal request to dismiss the criminal tax and gun charges.
With the legal documentation filed and public and private justifications made by President Biden, the stage is set for what could be the end of a highly publicized legal saga. This, in turn, closes a chapter that has been fraught with public scrutiny and legal complexities.