Donald Trump cites Hunter Biden pardon in push to have hush money case dismissed
 

In a new filing on Tuesday, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s legal team cited the recent pardon granted to Hunter Biden by President Joe Biden to argue for the dismissal of Trump’s criminal fraud conviction. This legal move seeks to leverage the same reasoning used by Biden in his son’s case to make a defense against Trump's ongoing legal battles.

Hunter Biden, the president's son, was pardoned recently after being convicted this year of tax evasion and illegally possessing a firearm. Speaking about his son, President Biden said that Hunter was "selectively and unfairly prosecuted" by the Department of Justice (DOJ) solely because of his family connections. Trump's lawyers find these statements crucial, stating that the DOJ acted similarly in its actions against him because of politics.

Trump's lawyers filed a 69-page motion to dismiss the charges against him in the hush money case. In the filing, Trump's lawyers cite Biden's comments about the DOJ, which they say condemned the very institution that has been involved in the investigations against Trump. According to Trump's lawyers, Biden's remarks undermine the legitimacy of the DOJ's actions, framing them as politically biased. The doctrine of presidential immunity has also been invoked in defense, arguing that Trump must be shielded from the legal actions as he is performing official duties as the President.

His indictment is based on 34 counts of falsifying business records regarding payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in the final weeks of the 2016 election. These payments are reported to have been made so Daniels would not reveal an affair that could have derailed Trump's campaign. This case, now before Judge Juan Merchan, is highly political in nature and has the Trump legal team moving for a delay or dismissal.

Judge Merchan has just delayed Trump's sentencing to account for the unprecedented electoral victory of Trump in the year 2024. The prosecutor, Alvin Bragg, has also supported delay and is aware of political and legal implications of a case caused by Trump's victory in the election. The Trump team is moving further with a motion seeking a dismissal, arguing the case as part of a politically motivated process of interference with Trump's prospects in elections.