A federal judge has strongly condemned President Biden's pardon of his son, Hunter, questioning both the president's justification for the pardon and the way it was announced. Judge Mark Scarsi, a Trump appointee in the Central District of California, issued a five-page order accusing the president of attempting to "rewrite history" and suggesting the pardon's scope might be unconstitutional.

Judge Scarsi took issue with President Biden's claim that Hunter was treated unfairly due to his addiction. The judge pointed out that Hunter's situation didn't align with the president's description of individuals who paid taxes late because of addiction. He also noted that two other federal judges had dismissed Hunter's claims of being targeted due to his family connections. Furthermore, Judge Scarsi highlighted that the investigation and subsequent charges were overseen by Biden's own Attorney General and Department of Justice.

The judge also expressed his disapproval of the president's method of notification, which was a White House press release rather than an official document. He emphasized that a press release doesn't constitute a formal pardon. Despite his criticism, Judge Scarsi stated he would dismiss the case upon receiving the official pardon from the appropriate executive agency. He also canceled Hunter Biden’s scheduled December 16 sentencing. While the charges could have resulted in up to 17 years in prison, federal sentencing guidelines likely would have led to a significantly shorter sentence.

This pardon contradicts President Biden's earlier statements this past summer, where he assured the media he would not pardon his son. He reiterated this stance after a jury found Hunter guilty of three felony firearm offenses, stating he would respect the jury's decision. The White House has been contacted for comment.