Biden Pardon Brings Hunter Biden Gun Case to Abrupt End
A Dismissal Shakes the Courtroom
Just days before Hunter Biden was due to be
sentenced, a federal judge dismissed the gun case against him, closing a tumultuous legal chapter for the president’s son. this came after President Joe Biden granted his son a sweeping federal pardon. Hunter Biden could have faced up to 25 years in prison on three felony counts, but a conviction seemed less likely as a first-time offender.
Prosecutors immediately voiced their opposition to the dismissal, arguing in court documents that a pardon shouldn’t simply make the case “disappear.”
Lawyer familiar with the case slated after ruling the pardon is to “wipe away” the matter “as if
it never occurred.
A Legal Saga
Ends
The decision comes after a plea deal previously struck between Hunter Biden and prosecutors collapsed. The agreement, intended to spare him prison time, fell apart
when Judge Maryellen Noreika raised concerns about unusual aspects of
the arrangement.
Hunter Biden was convicted of making false
statements on a federal Form 4473 when he purchased a .38 caliber revolver in
Delaware in 2018. At the time, he falsely
claimed he wasn’t a drug user, despite his public admissions of being
chronically addicted to crack cocaine.
In a separate case, the Justice Department special counsel is pursuing charges against Biden for failing to pay nearly $1.4 million in
taxes. An independent, California-based judge has yet to make a ruling
in that separate case.
Political Fallout
Looms
The president’s decision to pardon his son,
breaking
from prior commitments to refrain
from involving himself in the case has sparked controversy
in Washington. The move has been met with criticism
from members of both parties. Democrats and Republicans
alike have voiced concerns, and the pardon has
casts a shadow over President Biden’s legacy as his term comes to a close. The pardon comes
as Biden prepares to leave office on January 20th after serving a single term.
People Also Ask:
## Interview with Legal Analyst on Hunter Biden Pardon
**Interviewer:** Joining us today is legal analyst Jane Doe to discuss the recent pardon granted to Hunter Biden by President Joe Biden. Jane, can you help us understand the implications of this pardon?
**Jane Doe:** Absolutely. This pardon is significant on several levels. It brought an abrupt end to a politically charged gun case against Hunter Biden, who was facing up to 25 years in prison for making false statements on a federal gun purchase form. While a conviction seemed unlikely for a first-time offender, the case had been extremely controversial and publicly drawn out.
**Interviewer:** Prosecutors expressed frustration, arguing the pardon shouldn’t simply erase the case. Can you elaborate on their objections?
**Jane Doe:** They’re essentially arguing that a pardon shouldn’t “make the case disappear” and that the legal process should be allowed to play out. They feel a pardon undermines the rule of law and sets a potentially dangerous precedent.
[[1](https://www.npr.org/2024/12/02/nx-s1-5213251/hunter-biden-presidential-pardon-explained)]
**Interviewer:** This pardon comes after a plea deal between Hunter Biden and prosecutors collapsed. Can you shed light on what happened there?
**Jane Doe:** Yes, the initial plea deal aimed to spare Hunter Biden prison time, but it encountered problems when the judge, Maryellen Noreika, raised concerns about unusual aspects of the agreement. This led to the agreement falling apart and the case going to trial.
**Interviewer:** Now, with the pardon in place, what are the next steps?
**Jane Doe:** Legally, the case is dismissed. The pardon effectively wipes the slate clean, as if the charges never existed. Hunter Biden will no longer face prosecution, fines, or any other penalties related to the gun charges.
**Interviewer:** How do you see this pardon impacting public perception of both Hunter Biden and President Biden?
**Jane Doe:** That’s a complex question. The pardon is likely to fuel already existing divisions. Some will view it as an act of presidential overreach and favoritism, while others will see it as a way to protect a troubled son from undue hardship. Only time will tell what the long-term impact will be.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Jane Doe, for providing your insights on this developing story.