Uncovering Business Ethics: The Devon Archer and Hunter Biden Saga

Man in a suit waving against dark background.

President Donald Trump announced a full pardon for Devon Archer, former business partner of Hunter Biden, exposing the stark contrast in how justice is applied to those connected to the powerful versus those who cross them.

Key Takeaways

Trump promised a full and unconditional pardon to Devon Archer during an NCAA wrestling championship event in Philadelphia.
Archer served as a key witness in House impeachment inquiries, testifying that Hunter Biden often involved his father Joe in business calls with foreign associates.
Despite evidence suggesting Hunter Biden’s involvement in the tribal bonds scheme that led to Archer’s conviction, Hunter faced no charges while Archer endured a decade-long legal battle.
President Joe Biden had previously pardoned his son Hunter for potential crimes related to Ukrainian business dealings before leaving office.
The pardon was arranged through Tony Bobulinski, another former Hunter Biden associate who became a whistleblower against the Biden family’s business practices.

Trump’s Pardon Announcement

During the NCAA wrestling championship finals in Philadelphia, President Donald Trump made a significant announcement that sent ripples through Washington’s political landscape. Trump declared his intention to grant a full and unconditional pardon to Devon Archer, a former business partner of Hunter Biden who had become entangled in a complex legal saga spanning nearly a decade. The pardon was arranged during a meeting with Tony Bobulinski, another former Hunter Biden associate who had turned whistleblower after claiming the Biden family had engaged in questionable business practices with foreign entities.

Trump’s decision came after Archer had faced multiple court battles related to a securities fraud conviction stemming from a tribal bonds scheme. Throughout his legal ordeal, Archer maintained that he had been unfairly targeted because of his connection to the Biden family and his eventual testimony against their interests. The announcement generated immediate reactions from both supporters who viewed it as correcting an injustice and critics who questioned the timing and motivation behind the pardon.

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

Archer’s legal troubles began in 2015 with an investigation into a tribal bonds scheme that eventually led to his conviction in 2018 for securities fraud. Throughout the legal proceedings, Archer maintained that he was caught in a “convoluted lawfare effort” orchestrated by those connected to the Biden family. His conviction underwent multiple reversals and reinstatements, with a resentencing scheduled for later this year. The case took on additional political significance when information emerged suggesting that Hunter Biden had also been involved in the same tribal bonds deal but was never charged.

Archer’s significance in the political arena expanded when he testified before the House Oversight Committee during impeachment inquiries into former President Joe Biden. His testimony revealed that Hunter Biden had placed his father on speakerphone during business meetings with foreign associates at least 20 times, contradicting Joe Biden’s claims that he had no knowledge of his son’s business dealings. This testimony provided Republican lawmakers with ammunition to argue that the elder Biden had been involved in his son’s international business ventures.

Whistleblower Testimony and Alleged Unequal Justice

Archer’s testimony opened a window into what some have characterized as the “Biden brand” being marketed to international business partners. According to Archer, Hunter Biden would often introduce his father to foreign business associates, creating the impression of potential influence and access. This testimony aligned with similar claims made by Bobulinski, who had previously provided evidence suggesting Joe Biden’s knowledge of Hunter’s business activities with Chinese entities, despite public denials.

Adding to the controversy is the fact that before leaving office, Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter for any potential crimes related to Ukrainian business dealings. This created what critics view as a stark contrast: Hunter Biden received preemptive protection from his father while Archer faced years of legal battles for similar activities. Similarly, former IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley, who had exposed alleged Department of Justice obstruction in a tax investigation of Hunter Biden, was recently promoted to deputy chief of IRS criminal investigations under the Trump administration.

Personal Toll and Future Implications

Beyond the political ramifications, Archer’s case highlights the personal toll that high-profile legal battles can exact. After his conviction was reinstated in 2022, Archer was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison. Throughout his ordeal, Archer maintained that he had been unfairly targeted while Hunter Biden, who was allegedly involved in the same tribal bonds scheme, faced no consequences. The pending pardon would effectively end Archer’s legal troubles but leaves open questions about the selective application of justice in politically charged cases.

The Archer pardon represents another chapter in the ongoing political narrative surrounding the Biden family’s business dealings and raises questions about accountability in American politics. As supporters of Trump celebrate what they view as justice for a whistleblower, and critics question the motivations behind the pardon, the case continues to illuminate the deep partisan divisions that characterize the current political landscape. What remains clear is that the intersection of business, family connections, and political power continues to generate significant controversy in American public life.