U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika has closed the gun case against Hunter Biden a week before his scheduled sentencing. The dismissal comes after a sweeping pardon granted by his father, President Joe Biden.
Following the decision Sunday, Dec. 1, Hunter Biden’s legal team submitted a motion to dismiss all charges with prejudice citing the “Full and Unconditional Pardon.”
Federal prosecutors argued against dropping the three felonies Hunter Biden was convicted of this summer in Delaware. Hunter Biden faced up to 25 years in prison for lying about being a drug user on a federal form when buying a gun in 2018.
In a filing by the prosecution, it stated a “pardon does not blot out guilt or expunge a judgement of conviction.” Prosecutors noted historic rulings that removed the court record but did not dismiss the charges. Court documents revealed their arguments that it shouldn’t be cleared “as if it never occurred.”
A plea deal fell through last year when Hunter Biden came to an agreement with prosecutors to avoid prison time. Noreika questioned parts of it, causing it to not go through.
President Biden’s pardon defends his son against any offenses committed over the past 11 years.
The Justice Department’s Special Counsel has also voiced opposition against dismissing Hunter Biden’s tax fraud charges. Hunter Biden plead guilty in September, but the pardon covers it.
Both Democrats and Republicans have spoken against the pardon, as it violates the president’s original vows. President Biden initially said he wouldn’t pardon his son and instead abide by the jury’s decision.
Hunter Biden is the first child of a sitting president to be convicted of a crime.
