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Lawyers for Hunter Biden have filed motions to dismiss his criminal tax and gun cases after President Joe Biden issued a sweeping pardon covering all federal offenses his son may have committed since 2014.
Let’s bring you up to speed: Late last night, President Biden announced he would issue a full and unconditional pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, covering not only the federal gun and tax charges he faced but also any other offenses committed or potentially committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024. The pardon effectively shields Hunter Biden from any federal prosecution within that timeframe, regardless of whether charges have been filed or investigations are ongoing. This move extends beyond the immediate legal cases against Hunter, granting him immunity for a decade.
Getting into it: In a court filing less than an hour after news broke about the pardon, Abbe Lowell, Hunter Biden’s attorney, formally requested the dismissal of the pending criminal cases against his client. Lowell wrote to the judges overseeing the cases, stating, “Accordingly, dismissal of the Indictment with prejudice and adjourning any future proceedings and entry judgment in this matter is now required.” He emphasized that the courts have consistently dismissed cases following presidential pardons, citing legal precedent in his filings. The notice also included a sworn declaration from Hunter Biden accepting the pardon, further solidifying the legal basis for the request.
Some background on Hunter’s cases: Hunter Biden faced charges in two federal cases, one involving tax offenses and the other related to a firearm purchase while he was allegedly using drugs. In the gun case, a Delaware jury found him guilty of three felonies, including making false statements during a background check and illegally possessing a firearm as a drug user, stemming from a 2018 revolver purchase.
In the tax case, Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges in California, acknowledging he failed to pay substantial amounts in federal income taxes for multiple years. Prosecutors highlighted significant unpaid tax liabilities, including over $100,000 owed in a single year. His sentencing hearings for both cases were scheduled for mid-December before President Biden’s pardon effectively nullified the convictions.
