Prosecutors told a federal judge that there is no evidence of vindictive or selective prosecution in the case involving President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden. Special counsel David Weiss’s office stated in new filings on Dec. 2 that President Biden’s claims of selective prosecution were unfounded.
In response to President Biden’s pardon of Hunter Biden, Weiss and other federal prosecutors reiterated that there has never been any evidence of vindictive or selective prosecution in the case. They emphasized this point in filings submitted to federal courts in Delaware and California.
President Biden’s assertion that his son was unfairly prosecuted was challenged by Weiss’s office, noting that multiple judges, including some appointed by the president, have rejected similar arguments from Hunter Biden in the past.
The prosecutors also highlighted that Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to tax charges in California federal court and was convicted of gun-related crimes in Delaware federal court. The pardon issued by President Biden covers offenses committed by Hunter Biden from January 1, 2014, through December 1, 2024, including charges brought by Weiss.
Lawyers for Hunter Biden informed federal judges in California and Delaware that the pardon necessitates the dismissal of both indictments against him. However, prosecutors disagreed with this view and recommended closing the cases to keep the documents accessible.
Despite acknowledging the act of mercy extended to Hunter Biden through the pardon, prosecutors emphasized that the grand jury’s decision to charge him based on probable cause should not be disregarded. They refuted the baseless claims of improper motive or selective prosecution made by the defendant and urged the judges not to dismiss the indictment.
Weiss, who was appointed by President Biden’s Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2023 to investigate Hunter Biden, presented charges in Delaware and California, which were approved by grand juries. President Biden stated that he would not have issued the pardon if a plea deal allowing Hunter Biden to plead guilty to misdemeanor tax charges in exchange for dropping a felony gun charge had been accepted.
The plea deal was rejected by U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika due to additional details, including promises from prosecutors not to pursue other charges. As the legal proceedings continue, the implications of the pardon on Hunter Biden’s case remain contested.
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