Federal judge accuses President Biden of attempting to ‘rewrite history’ in Hunter Biden pardon
In a surprising turn of events, the federal judge overseeing Hunter Biden’s tax case has issued a scathing rebuke of President Biden’s claim that his son was unfairly treated, as well as criticizing the president’s delivery method of the last-minute pardon. U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi, a Trump-nominated judge based in the Central District of California, accused President Biden of “rewriting history” with the pardon and suggested that the breadth of the pardon granted to his son may be unconstitutional.
In a five-page order, Judge Scarsi expressed his displeasure with the president’s decision to announce the pardon of his son through a White House press release. He emphasized that a press release is not a legally binding pardon and that the official pardon document must be provided to the judicial system. The judge also took issue with President Biden’s statement regarding his son’s tax case, pointing out that the president’s assertion that Hunter Biden was treated unfairly due to his familial relation to the president was unfounded.
Furthermore, Judge Scarsi highlighted that two federal judges had previously rejected Hunter Biden’s arguments that he was targeted by the government because of his connection to the president. The judge also noted that the president’s own Attorney General and Department of Justice personnel oversaw the investigation leading to the charges against Hunter Biden. Despite President Biden’s claims, the judge emphasized that the legal proceedings against Hunter Biden were conducted impartially and in accordance with the law.
In response to President Biden’s pardon, Judge Scarsi stated that he would dispose of the case once he received the official pardon document from the appropriate executive agency. He also vacated Hunter Biden’s sentencing, which was scheduled for December 16. The charges against Hunter Biden carried a potential sentence of up to 17 years in prison, but the first son would likely have faced a shorter sentence under federal sentencing guidelines.
The judge concluded by acknowledging the broad authority granted to the president to grant pardons but emphasized that the pardon power only extends to past offenses. Hunter Biden, who has faced multiple legal challenges this year, including felony firearm offenses and a felony tax case, will now await the final resolution of his tax case following the president’s pardon.
President Biden’s decision to pardon his son marks a departure from his previous statements to the media, where he had insisted that he would not intervene in his son’s legal proceedings. The president’s sudden change of heart has raised questions about the impartiality of the legal system and the influence of familial connections on legal outcomes.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment on the judge’s rebuke of President Biden’s pardon of Hunter Biden. The unfolding legal saga surrounding Hunter Biden continues to captivate public attention, as the first son navigates the complexities of the justice system under the scrutiny of the public eye.
