In a move that has sparked both praise and criticism, former President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued a presidential pardon to Devon Archer, the former business partner of Hunter Biden, arguing that Archer had been treated unfairly during his legal troubles.
Archer, a key figure in the ongoing investigation by House Republicans into the business dealings of Hunter Biden, was convicted in 2018 by a federal jury on charges of defrauding a Native American tribe. He was found guilty of fraudulently issuing and selling more than $60 million in tribal bonds. However, Trump contends that Archer’s legal fate took a sharp turn after he cooperated with federal investigators and served as a witness in the investigation into the Biden family.
During a brief ceremony at the White House, Trump explained his decision to pardon Archer. “And many people have asked me to do this. I think he was treated very unfairly. I looked at the records, studied the records, and he was. He was a victim of a crime, as far as I’m concerned. So, we’re going to undo that,” said Trump as he signed the pardon.
The pardon comes after a series of legal setbacks for Archer. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Archer’s criminal conviction, rejecting his plea to avoid serving his prison sentence. He had previously sought to have his case heard by the Court in 2021, but the justices declined to take up the appeal, effectively sealing his conviction.
Archer’s legal troubles, however, did not stop him from becoming a central figure in the investigations led by House Republicans into the business activities of Hunter Biden and his father, President Joe Biden. In August 2023, Archer provided testimony behind closed doors to the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, which was investigating potential conflicts of interest surrounding the Biden family's business dealings.
In his testimony, Archer revealed that Hunter Biden had put his father, who was serving as vice president at the time, on speakerphone during meetings with business associates. However, Archer emphasized that while he was aware of these calls, he was not aware of any illegal activity by the former vice president. The testimony provided a crucial thread for House Republicans, who have been trying to link the elder Biden to his son's business dealings as part of their broader investigation, which has included discussions of possible impeachment proceedings against the president.
Despite Archer’s cooperation with the investigation, his legal troubles continued, and Trump’s decision to issue a pardon was based on what the former president described as an unfair judicial process. Allies of Trump and Archer have long argued that the prosecution’s handling of Archer’s case shifted after he began cooperating with investigations into the Biden family.
The pardon has ignited political debate, with critics accusing Trump of using the power of the presidency to shield an ally in the midst of a politically charged investigation. On the other hand, Archer’s supporters view the pardon as a rectification of what they argue was an overzealous prosecution.
While Archer’s conviction remains a contentious issue, Tuesday's pardon adds another chapter to the ongoing scrutiny of Hunter Biden’s business dealings, which continue to be a focal point in American politics. Archer’s testimony remains a critical component of the Republican-led investigation into the Biden family, although it has not yet led to any direct legal action against President Biden.
As for the future of the investigation, House Republicans are likely to continue their pursuit of what they perceive as ties between the Biden family and Hunter Biden's foreign business ventures. However, with the pardon of Devon Archer, the political and legal landscape surrounding this investigation has become even more complex.
