Judge Formally Dismisses Case Against Hunter Biden In Delaware

The case against Hunter Biden in Delaware has officially been closed, just two days after President Joe Biden granted his son a sweeping pardon. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika issued the decision on Tuesday, stating, “In the absence of binding precedent for a case that had yet to reach sentencing, all proceedings in this case are hereby terminated.”

The pardon, described as “full and unconditional,” was announced Sunday evening, despite prior assertions from President Biden and his administration that no such action would occur. In his statement accompanying the pardon, President Biden said, “Raw politics … infected” Hunter Biden’s case.

Special counsel David Weiss, who oversaw the investigation, firmly rejected accusations of selective prosecution. In a recent filing, Weiss stated, “There was none and never has been any evidence of vindictive or selective prosecution in this case.” He also urged the court to terminate the case rather than dismiss the indictment outright, arguing that preserving the record is essential.

In a similar motion filed Monday in California, Weiss’s office maintained the position that the grand jury’s indictment should remain part of the historical record. “[T]he defendant’s false allegation that the charges were motivated by an improper motive does not justify the dismissal of his charges,” Weiss wrote, adding, “Neither the law nor the district’s practice support the defendant’s request to have the indictment dismissed.”

Judge Noreika’s ruling aligns with Weiss’s recommendation to terminate proceedings while retaining the case record for posterity. However, the tax case against Hunter Biden, overseen by U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi in California, remains unresolved, as Scarsi has not yet ruled on whether to dismiss the charges or take a similar approach to the Delaware court.

Hunter Biden’s legal troubles have been a source of contention. The first son was convicted earlier this year of lying on a federal form about drug use when purchasing a firearm and failing to pay over $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019. He faced up to 17 years in prison for these offenses.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced pointed questions from reporters about the administration’s apparent reversal. A reporter asked if earlier assurances that President Biden would not pardon his son could now “be seen as lies” to the American public.

Jean-Pierre responded defensively, saying, “The president always believes in being truthful to the American people.” She encouraged the public to read the president’s statement, emphasizing that Biden “wrestled with this” decision and ultimately felt that “raw politics” had led to a “miscarriage of justice.”

The pardon's timing and its implications have drawn intense scrutiny. Critics argue it undermines the administration’s credibility, while supporters assert it reflects a personal and principled decision by a father and president. As the controversy continues to unfold, Weiss’s filings and the courts’ handling of the cases are likely to shape the narrative surrounding Hunter Biden’s legal and political saga.