Devon Archer, Hunter Biden, and a Trump Pardon: Unraveling Controversies

I don't know who this is, man in suit with thumbs up.

President Trump grants full pardon to Devon Archer, Hunter Biden’s former business partner who claims the Bidens targeted him after he testified about their business dealings.

Quick Takes

  • Trump promised a “full and unconditional pardon” to Devon Archer during a meeting arranged by Tony Bobulinski, another former Hunter Biden associate.
  • Archer was convicted of securities fraud related to a 2015 tribal bonds scheme while Hunter Biden, initially the investigation’s target, faced no charges.
  • Archer testified in House impeachment hearings that Hunter Biden put his father Joe on speakerphone during business meetings at least 20 times.
  • Archer claims he was the victim of a “convoluted lawfare effort” by the Biden family after becoming a whistleblower.
  • Former President Joe Biden had previously pardoned his son Hunter for any crimes related to Ukrainian business dealings before leaving office.

Trump Announces Pardon at Wrestling Championship

President Donald Trump announced his intention to pardon Devon Archer during the NCAA wrestling championship finals in Philadelphia. The announcement came after a meeting arranged by Tony Bobulinski, another former Hunter Biden business associate who has become a vocal critic of the Biden family. Trump made his intentions clear, stating simply, “He’s getting a full pardon.” The pardon promise comes as a significant development in the long-running saga surrounding Hunter Biden’s controversial business dealings and the individuals associated with them.

The setting for the announcement was notably festive, as Trump was attending to celebrate Penn State’s wrestling championship victory. The president received an enthusiastic reception from the crowd at the event, using the platform to make this significant announcement regarding Archer’s legal situation. The timing and setting of the announcement underscore the political dimensions of this pardon case, as Trump continues to highlight what he portrays as injustices committed by the Biden administration.

Archer’s Decade-Long Legal Struggles

Devon Archer has endured a complex legal ordeal spanning nearly a decade. He was convicted in 2018 for securities fraud related to a tribal bonds scheme from 2015, a case that initially targeted Hunter Biden but ultimately resulted in no charges against the president’s son. Archer’s conviction has been overturned and reinstated multiple times through various appeals, with a resentencing currently scheduled for later in 2025. Throughout these proceedings, Archer has maintained his innocence and claimed he was unfairly targeted.

After learning of Trump’s pardon promise, Archer expressed profound gratitude, not only to the president but also to his family for standing by him through his legal challenges. In a public statement, Archer specifically thanked his wife “for keeping the family intact in these fragile years” as he fought his conviction. The pardon would end what Archer has characterized as a “convoluted lawfare effort” that he believes was orchestrated by the Biden family in retaliation for his cooperation with congressional investigations.

Whistleblower Testimony and Biden Connections

Archer’s significance in the ongoing scrutiny of the Biden family stems from his testimony during House impeachment inquiries into President Joe Biden’s potential involvement in his son’s business dealings. During his testimony, Archer revealed that Hunter Biden had placed his father on speakerphone during business meetings at least 20 times, contradicting the Biden family’s repeated claims that Joe Biden had no knowledge of or involvement in his son’s business activities. This testimony provided congressional investigators with direct evidence connecting the former president to his son’s international business operations.

The promised pardon for Archer comes in the context of former President Biden having pardoned his son Hunter for any crimes related to Ukrainian business dealings before leaving office. This parallel action has fueled conservative claims of a two-tiered justice system, with Trump positioning his pardon of Archer as a corrective measure against perceived political persecution. The Archer pardon also follows the promotion of IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley to deputy chief of IRS criminal investigations, marking another instance of the Trump administration elevating individuals who have been critical of the Biden family.

Sources:

Miranda Devine: Trump to grant ‘full pardon’ to Hunter Biden whistleblower Devon Archer: ‘He was screwed’

Trump Promises Pardon for Ex-Hunter Biden Business Partner Devon Archer

Trump Vows To Pardon Devon Archer, Ex-Business Partner Of Hunter Biden