The latest chapter in Hunter Biden's legal saga unfolds as the president's son faces professional consequences for his criminal conviction.
According to Fox News, Hunter Biden has consented to be disbarred from practicing law in Washington, D.C., as revealed in court records filed Tuesday where he submitted an affidavit acknowledging his "consent to disbarment."
The development comes after Biden was immediately suspended from practicing law in the nation's capital in June 2024, following his felony conviction in Delaware federal court. His disbarment will become official once the D.C. Court of Appeals accepts the recommendation from a disciplinary agency, along with Biden's own consent to surrender his license.
The president's son was found guilty of three charges related to firearm possession and false statements in June 2024. The charges stemmed from his purchase of a Cobra Colt .38 in 2018, where he allegedly lied about his drug use on the purchase application.
During the trial, which lasted nearly seven days, both prosecutors and defense teams extensively referenced Biden's 2021 memoir "Beautiful Things," which detailed his struggles with crack cocaine addiction. The prosecution presented text messages between Biden and alleged drug dealers to demonstrate his ongoing addiction during the period he purchased the firearm.
Biden's legal team acknowledged his history of substance abuse but argued that he did not consider himself an active drug user on the day he bought the handgun. However, prosecutors successfully convinced the jury that Biden was addicted to crack cocaine before, during, and after the firearm purchase.
Following President Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race in July amid concerns about his age and mental capacity, Hunter faced additional legal challenges. He was charged with three felony tax offenses and six misdemeanor tax offenses for failing to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes.
As jury selection was about to begin in September 2024, Biden unexpectedly entered a guilty plea in the tax case. The legal proceedings took an unprecedented turn in December when President Biden, before leaving office, granted his son a comprehensive pardon.
The presidential pardon covers any offenses against the United States that Hunter "has committed or may have committed" during a nearly 11-year period from January 1, 2014, to December 1, 2024. This sweeping action effectively shields the younger Biden from federal prosecution for actions within this timeframe.
Biden's legal career in Washington, D.C., spans back to 2007 when he first obtained his license to practice law. Currently, his bar member standing shows "Temp Disciplinary Suspension," though this status will change once his disbarment is finalized.
The decision to surrender his law license marks a significant professional setback for the president's son. It represents one of the concrete consequences of his criminal conviction, despite the presidential pardon that shields him from further federal prosecution.
Biden's legal team has not provided public comment regarding the disbarment proceedings, leaving questions about his future professional plans unanswered.
Hunter Biden's journey from practicing attorney to convicted felon highlights the dramatic turn of events in his personal and professional life. His agreement to surrender his Washington, D.C., law license comes after his conviction on gun charges and guilty plea to tax offenses, demonstrating the lasting impact of his legal troubles despite receiving a presidential pardon from his father. The D.C. Court of Appeals will now review the disciplinary agency's recommendation and Biden's consent to disbarment before making the action official.
