WASHINGTON, Dec 3 (Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti) -- US Special Counsel David Weiss has objected to Hunter Biden’s motion to dismiss his indictment on tax and gun charges after outgoing President Joe Biden granted him a pardon, according to a court filing.
Biden signed an executive order pardoning his son Hunter on Sunday, saying the decision was driven by his belief in the injustice of the prosecution. President-elect Donald Trump criticised the pardon, calling it an "abuse and miscarriage of justice."
"The United States of America, by and through its counsel of record, hereby submits this opposition to the defendant’s motion to dismiss the indictment, contained in ‘Defendant’s Notice of Pardon.’ (ECF No. 236).
“The defendant’s motion should be denied since there is no binding authority on this Court which requires dismissal," Weiss said in the filing dated Monday, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.
Weiss said that the government does not challenge that the defendant has been the recipient of an act of mercy, but it does not mean that his charges should be "wiped away."
Weiss noted that Hunter Biden’s claim that he is being selectively prosecuted "rests solely on him being the son of the sitting President."
This claim is "belied by the facts" since the executive branch that charged the defendant is headed by his father, the filing said.
--BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI