Federal judge in Hunter Biden's tax case slams president's characterization of prosecution

The federal judge overseeing Hunter Biden's criminal tax case on Tuesday slammed President Joe Biden's sudden pardon of his son, and the manner in which he described the prosecution.

The president issued a full pardon for Hunter Biden on Sunday night, claiming his son was unfairly targeted and prosecuted. The blanket pardon, which covers crimes from 2014 through 2024, means the first son cannot be prosecuted or sentenced for his tax charges, his federal gun charge, or any possible crime he committed while on the board of Burisma. 

Joe Biden claimed in a statement accompanying the pardon that “no reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter's cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out because he is my son.”

U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi on Tuesday rejected that assertion and cited that multiple other judges have already determined the prosecution was not vindictive. Hunter Biden has also attempted to have the tax case dismissed eight times.

“The President’s own Attorney General and Department of Justice personnel oversaw the investigation leading to the charges,” Scarsi wrote, per The Hill. “In the President’s estimation, this legion of federal civil servants, the undersigned included, are unreasonable people.” 

The judge also blasted the manner in which the pardon was announced, and stated that although the U.S. Constitution gives the president the power to issue pardons, it does not allow them to "rewrite history." Scarsi said he would dispose of the case once he has received a proper pardon from the appropriate agency.

Scarsi did however vacate Hunter Biden's sentencing in the case, which was scheduled for Dec. 16.

Special Counsel David Weiss, who oversaw Hunter Biden's prosecution, also rejected allegations that the case was politically motivated in a court filing on Monday, citing the other judges who have rejected Hunter Biden's attempts to dismiss the cases.

"In total, eleven (11) different Article III judges appointed by six (6) different presidents, including his father, considered and rejected the defendant’s claims, including his claims for selective and vindictive prosecution," Weiss said in the filing.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.