In a controversial decision, President Donald Trump has pardoned Devon Archer, a former business associate of Hunter Biden, who was previously convicted in a fraud case.
According to NTD, President Trump's pardon of Devon Archer on March 25 has stirred discussions and debates, highlighting a complex legal journey.
Archer's connections with Hunter Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, brought additional scrutiny to his legal troubles. Initially, Archer was found guilty in 2018 of defrauding Native American tribes and pension funds.
Initial Conviction and Subsequent Legal Battles
A federal judge later overturned this conviction, ruling that Archer had no intent to commit fraud. However, this decision was challenged, and an appeals court reinstated the conviction, pointing to incriminating evidence in emails.
The legal wrangling did not stop there, as Archer's conviction was upheld by higher courts, including two denials by the U.S. Supreme Court to review his case, the most recent being in 2024.
Interactions and Testimonies Linked to the Biden Family
Throughout his legal ordeals, Archer became involved in congressional investigations. In 2023, he testified before the U.S. House of Representatives regarding the Biden family's business dealings during and after Joe Biden’s vice presidency.
This testimony, according to White House staff secretary Will Scharf, influenced the nature of the prosecution against Archer, leading to perceptions of bias and mistreatment due to his associations.
“Archer was prosecuted relating to a fraud investigation, but notably, the tone and tenor of that prosecution changed dramatically after he began to cooperate with congressional investigators and serve as a witness against Hunter, [Joe] Biden, and the Biden family,” Scharf stated.
Pardons on Both Sides of the Political Spectrum
Before leaving office, Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted of federal gun crimes and had pleaded guilty to tax evasion. This has drawn comparisons to Trump's pardon of Archer, each stirring their own sets of controversies and discussions about justice and presidential pardon powers.
"Many people have asked me to do this. I think he was treated very unfairly," Trump said regarding his decision to pardon Archer. He emphasized that after reviewing the case records, Archer appeared more of a victim than a perpetrator.
Matthew L. Schwartz, Archer’s lawyer, expressed relief at the pardon. "Today’s pardon corrects a serious injustice, and finally allows an innocent man to be free of the threat of misguided prosecution. Mr. Archer is deeply appreciative of the President,” Schwartz remarked.
Reflection on Burisma and Business Ties
Archer also provided insights into the value Hunter Biden added to Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company. He noted that while corporate governance was a theoretical benefit, the real value lay in the "brand" attached to the Biden family.
"The value that Hunter Biden brought to it was having the theoretical framework of corporate governance, but, given the brand, that was a large part of the value,” Archer explained. He speculated that without the Biden association, Burisma might have struggled to stay in business.
This narrative ties back into the broader discussions about business ethics and political connections, framing the pardons in a light of potential conflicts of interest and influences over legal processes.
