President Trump grants full pardon to Devon Archer, a former business partner of Hunter Biden, raising new questions about the Biden family’s alleged efforts to target whistleblowers and protect their business interests.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump announced a full pardon for Devon Archer during the NCAA wrestling championship finals in Philadelphia, arranged by Hunter Biden’s former business associate Tony Bobulinski.
- Archer faced a decade-long legal battle over securities fraud charges while Hunter Biden, initially the target, escaped prosecution despite evidence of involvement.
- Archer testified before Congress that Hunter Biden repeatedly involved his father Joe Biden in business calls with foreign partners, contradicting the President’s claims.
- The pardon highlights contrasting approaches to justice: Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter before leaving office, while Trump is pardoning someone who claims to be a victim of Biden family retribution.
- IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley, who exposed DOJ obstruction in the Hunter Biden tax investigation, has been promoted to deputy chief of IRS criminal investigations under the Trump administration.
Trump’s Surprise Pardon Announcement
President Donald Trump made a dramatic announcement at the NCAA wrestling championship finals in Philadelphia, declaring his intention to grant a full and unconditional pardon to Devon Archer. The former business partner of Hunter Biden has been embroiled in a legal battle over securities fraud for nearly a decade. Trump’s announcement came during a celebration for Penn State’s wrestling team, where he received an enthusiastic welcome from the crowd. The pardon was arranged through a meeting set up by Tony Bobulinski, another former Hunter Biden associate who became a whistleblower against the Biden family’s business dealings.
“He’s getting a full pardon,” Trump stated definitively at the event, referring to Archer. The announcement signals a significant turn in a case that has intersected with high-profile political tensions between the Trump and Biden camps. Archer, who served on the board of Burisma Holdings alongside Hunter Biden, has become a central figure in allegations concerning the Biden family’s international business operations. His pardon effectively ends a protracted legal saga that saw his conviction overturned and reinstated multiple times, with another resentencing scheduled for later this year.
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
Archer’s Legal Battles and Biden Connections
Devon Archer’s legal troubles began with a 2018 conviction for securities fraud related to a tribal bonds scheme dating back to 2015. While Hunter Biden was initially the focus of the investigation that led to Archer’s conviction, Biden faced no charges despite evidence of his involvement in the same venture. Archer’s conviction was overturned by a judge who questioned the evidence against him, only to be reinstated by an appeals court. Throughout this process, Archer maintained that he was the victim of selective prosecution, suggesting the Biden family leveraged influence to shift legal scrutiny away from Hunter.
The tribal bonds scheme at the center of Archer’s conviction involved a $60 million fraud against the Wakpamni Lake Community Corporation, an economic development arm of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. While documents revealed Hunter Biden’s firm received $300,000 from proceeds of the fraudulent scheme, prosecutors notably excluded Biden from their investigation. This selective treatment has fueled allegations of political interference in the justice system that protected the president’s son.
Congressional Testimony and Political Implications
Archer’s significance extends beyond his legal troubles. In July 2023, he provided testimony to the House Oversight Committee as part of the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden’s alleged involvement in his son’s business affairs. During this testimony, Archer revealed that Hunter Biden repeatedly placed his father on speakerphone during business meetings with foreign partners, contradicting President Biden’s repeated claims that he never discussed business with his son. According to Archer, these calls were designed to sell “the brand” of Biden influence.
The contrast in presidential actions has not gone unnoticed by political observers. Before leaving office, President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter for any crimes related to his Ukrainian business dealings. Trump’s pardon of Archer creates a notable parallel – Biden pardoned his son, while Trump is pardoning someone who claims to be a victim of the Biden family’s influence. This dynamic highlights the deep political divisions that continue to shape American politics and the justice system.
Under the Trump administration, whistleblowers who faced repercussions for exposing alleged Biden family corruption are finding vindication. Beyond Archer’s pardon, IRS agent Gary Shapley, who disclosed DOJ obstruction in the tax investigation of Hunter Biden, has been promoted to deputy chief of IRS criminal investigations. These developments signal a significant shift in how the government approaches allegations of political interference in federal investigations.
Sources:
Trump Promises Pardon for Ex-Hunter Biden Business Partner Devon Archer
Trump Vows To Pardon Devon Archer, Ex-Business Partner Of Hunter Biden
