Hunter Biden Responds to Presidential Pardon with Legal Action

Hunter Biden has formally responded to the full and unconditional pardon granted to him by his father, President Joe Biden, through a newly filed court declaration.

The document, submitted on December 1 and signed by Hunter Biden under penalty of perjury, confirmed his acceptance of the pardon and requested the dismissal of charges against him.

"Joseph R. Biden Jr granted me a full and unconditional pardon for, inter alia, the offenses specified in the indictment in this case," Hunter wrote in the filing.

He further declared, "I received and formally accepted the president's grant of a pardon. I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct."

The declaration, executed in Washington, D.C., coincided with legal filings from Hunter Biden’s attorneys in federal courts handling his gun and tax cases.

The attorneys informed judges that the presidential pardon requires the dismissal of the indictment with prejudice and the cancellation of all further proceedings.

President Biden had announced the pardon on Sunday, defending the decision as a response to what he described as selective and unfair prosecution.

Hunter Biden had been awaiting sentencing in two separate cases—one in Delaware for possessing a firearm while using drugs, and another in California for tax evasion. Sentencing for the gun case was originally scheduled for December 12, and the tax case for December 16.

The court in Delaware has already accepted Hunter Biden's pardon declaration as evidence, and the gun case is expected to be dismissed by the end of this week. The California tax case is also likely to be dismissed soon following the precedent set by the Delaware court.

The scope of the pardon extends beyond the current charges, shielding Hunter Biden from potential federal crimes committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024. This timeframe includes his tenure on the board of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma and his business dealings with companies in China and other countries.

President Biden’s decision to pardon his son has drawn significant political attention, as he had previously stated that he would not interfere in his son’s legal matters.

In his Sunday announcement, the president said, "Hunter Biden was selectively and unfairly prosecuted" and was "treated differently" from others accused of similar crimes.

The pardon, while legally sound, has ignited intense public and political debate, with critics accusing President Biden of nepotism and abuse of power, while supporters argue that Hunter Biden’s prosecution was politically motivated.

For now, Hunter Biden’s legal troubles appear to be resolved, but the controversy surrounding the pardon is likely to remain a key point of contention in national political discourse.