President Trump promises to pardon Devon Archer, a key witness in the Biden family business saga, reigniting controversy over alleged preferential treatment of Hunter Biden in a decade-long fraud case.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump announced a full pardon for Devon Archer, Hunter Biden’s former business partner, during an NCAA wrestling event in Philadelphia.
- Archer was convicted of securities fraud related to a tribal bonds scheme in which Hunter Biden was allegedly involved but never charged.
- The pardon was arranged through Tony Bobulinski, another former Biden business associate who became a whistleblower.
- Archer testified in Congressional hearings that Joe Biden was put on speaker during business calls with Hunter’s associates at least 20 times.
- Biden critics view the pardon as justice for a whistleblower allegedly targeted by a “lawfare effort” while Hunter Biden avoided prosecution.
Trump’s Surprise Pardon Announcement
President Donald Trump announced his intention to grant a “full and unconditional pardon” to Devon Archer during the NCAA wrestling championship finals in Philadelphia. The announcement came during a meeting arranged by Tony Bobulinski, another former Hunter Biden business associate who turned whistleblower during the 2020 campaign. Trump made the declaration in front of a receptive crowd while attending the event to celebrate Penn State’s wrestling championship victory.
Archer was convicted in 2018 of securities fraud related to a tribal bonds scheme, for which he faced a prison sentence. His conviction followed a complex legal journey that saw the verdict overturned and then reinstated multiple times, with a resentencing scheduled for later this year. According to Trump’s statement at the event, Archer “was screwed by the Bidens,” suggesting the former business partner had been unfairly targeted in legal proceedings.
President Trump has granted a full pardon to Devon Archer, Hunter Biden’s former business partner, who was convicted in 2018 for securities fraud. Archer later turned whistleblower in the Biden impeachment inquiry, with Trump claiming he was "screwed by the Bidens." pic.twitter.com/aLAjAl3UvC
— Steady Scope Media (@SteadScopeMedia) March 25, 2025
The Biden Connection and Congressional Testimony
Archer’s case gained national attention due to his business relationship with Hunter Biden and subsequent testimony before Congress. In July 2023, Archer provided testimony to the House Oversight Committee regarding Hunter Biden’s business activities and alleged connections to his father. During this testimony, Archer revealed that Hunter Biden had put his father, then-Vice President Joe Biden, on speakerphone during business meetings at least 20 times with various international business associates.
The securities fraud case that ensnared Archer initially investigated Hunter Biden’s involvement in the same tribal bonds scheme, but Hunter was never charged. This disparity in legal outcomes has been cited by Republican lawmakers and Trump supporters as evidence of preferential treatment for the Biden family. Archer’s legal team has maintained that he was targeted as part of what he called a “convoluted lawfare effort” connected to his relationship with the Bidens.
Whistleblower Recognition and Political Implications
The promised pardon appears to be part of a broader recognition of whistleblowers who have spoken out against the Biden family. In addition to Archer’s pardon, Trump’s administration has elevated IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley to deputy chief of IRS criminal investigations. Shapley had previously exposed what he described as Department of Justice obstruction in a tax investigation involving Hunter Biden, adding another layer to Republican claims of preferential treatment.
The pardon has significant political implications, coming after former President Biden pardoned his son Hunter for any crimes related to Ukrainian business dealings before leaving office. Trump’s decision to pardon Archer highlights the ongoing partisan battle over the Biden family’s business activities and alleged influence peddling that dominated headlines during both the Biden administration and the 2024 campaign.
Contrasting Legal Outcomes
Archer’s legal troubles stemmed from a scheme involving the issuance and sale of $60 million in tribal bonds that defrauded investors and a Native American tribe. While Archer was convicted, Hunter Biden who was allegedly involved in the same scheme through their joint company Rosemont Seneca Partners but was never charged. This disparity has been frequently cited by Republican lawmakers investigating the Biden family’s business dealings as evidence of a two-tiered justice system.
The friendship between Archer and Bobulinski, both of whom campaigned for Trump, appears to have played a role in facilitating the pardon. Bobulinski had previously provided documents and testimony about his business dealings with the Biden family, alleging that Joe Biden was the “big guy” referenced in email communications about equity distributions in a venture with Chinese energy companies.
Sources:
Trump Promises Pardon for Ex-Hunter Biden Business Partner Devon Archer
Trump Vows To Pardon Devon Archer, Ex-Business Partner Of Hunter Biden
