A federal judge has terminated the firearms case against Hunter Biden following an extensive pardon issued by President Joe Biden.
U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika closed the case just a week before Biden was scheduled for sentencing, where he could have faced a maximum of 25 years in prison. However, as a first-time offender, he likely would have received a more lenient sentence or potentially avoided incarceration altogether.
Despite the pardon, prosecutors argued against the case’s dismissal, contending that a pardon should not erase the case as if it never happened. Hunter Biden was found guilty of three felonies after falsely declaring on a federal form that he was not a drug user when purchasing a firearm in Delaware in 2018, a time during which he has openly admitted to struggling with addiction.
Additionally, the Justice Department’s special counsel has expressed opposition to the dismissal of a separate case filed in California, related to his failure to pay $1.4 million in taxes. A federal judge in Los Angeles has yet to make a determination in that matter.
The president’s recent decision to go against earlier commitments by granting his son a comprehensive federal pardon for actions spanning the last 11 years has caused significant political backlash in Washington. This development has raised concerns among both Democrats and Republicans and poses a risk to Biden’s legacy as he approaches the conclusion of his term on January 20.
Hunter Biden had initially intended to reach a plea bargain with prosecutors the previous year, which would have avoided prison time. However, the deal fell through after Judge Noreika raised questions about its unusual terms.