President Donald Trump granted a pardon to Devon Archer, a former business associate of Hunter Biden, for his conviction related to a fraud scheme involving more than $60 million in bonds against a Native American tribe.
Trump cited feedback from “many people” who believed Archer was unfairly treated due to his role as a witness in congressional investigations into potential corruption involving former President Joe Biden and his son. Trump stated that Archer had been “a victim of a crime” and announced the decision to reverse the conviction.
Archer had been convicted for conspiring in a fraudulent scheme to issue worthless bonds through the Wakpamni Lake Community Corp., leading to misappropriated funds. He was sentenced to over a year in prison, ordered to forfeit $15.7 million, and make restitution of $43.4 million. Despite the fraud case, Hunter Biden was not charged, and prosecutors found no evidence he had influenced federal policy.
Archer testified in July 2023 that Hunter Biden arranged for his father, then Vice President, to join calls or dinners over 20 times, but these interactions were largely casual, without any business discussions. Archer’s conviction had been challenged but was upheld by the Supreme Court in January 2024 before receiving the pardon from Trump.
