U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika terminated the case.
A federal judge in Delaware on Dec. 3 ended a case against President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, after the president issued a pardon for his progeny.
U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika in an oral order said that in light of the
pardon, “all proceedings in this case are hereby terminated.”
The move means Hunter Biden, 54, will not face any punishment for gun-related crimes, of which he was convicted by a jury.
Hunter Biden had faced up to 25 years behind bars for illegally buying a gun while using drugs, lying about drug use at the time of the purchase, and illegally possessing the gun following the purchase.
Sentencing had been scheduled for Dec. 12 prior to the pardon.
The broad pardon covers all offenses that Hunter Biden “may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024.”
Hunter Biden had also pleaded guilty to tax crimes in federal court in California.
U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi, the judge overseeing that case, has not yet acted on the matter.
The president has said he issued the pardon because he believed his son was selectively prosecuted, which resulted in what he described as a “miscarriage of justice.” He had previously vowed not to pardon his son.
President Biden has twice so far declined to answer questions about the pardon while traveling overseas.
The White House on Monday defended the pardon while Hunter Biden has said he will not take the pardon for granted. Norieka in her brief order did not dismiss the indictment in the Delaware case, as had been requested by Hunter Biden’s team.
“Mr. Biden’s pardon was effective upon issuance by the President,” his lawyers told Noreika and Scarsi, “and this Court should respect that decision by dismissing the Indictment as is the relief granted by courts addressing pardons at this moment in the process.” U.S. Department of Justice prosecutors had requested Norieka not dismiss the indictment, arguing such an action would mean the charging document would “be wiped away as if it never occurred.” A spokesman for the government declined to comment. A lawyer representing Hunter Biden did not return an inquiry.
Six months ago, under questioning from Norieka, a plea deal that had been reached by prosecutors and Hunter Biden fell apart. The deal would have seen Hunter Biden enter pretrial diversion on a gun charge in exchange for pleading guilty to tax charges. 
