Federal Judge Criticizes President Biden's Pardon of Hunter Biden

Judge Mark Scarsi challenges the president’s justification for the pardon, citing inconsistencies with the case record and legal precedent.

President Biden issued a full and unconditional pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, covering an 11-year period up to December 1, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi sharply criticized the pardon, arguing that the president misrepresented facts and undermined the judicial process in his justification.
The judge disputed Biden's claim that Hunter was treated unfairly due to his last name, noting that multiple judges and federal officials rejected such assertions during the case.
The pardon nullifies Hunter Biden’s guilty plea for tax evasion and a prior jury conviction for illegally purchasing a firearm.
Special counsel David Weiss and Judge Scarsi emphasized that the pardon does not erase Hunter Biden’s guilt or suggest any prosecutorial misconduct.