Trump Reduces Sentence for Hunter Biden’s Business Partner

President Trump commutes the sentence of Jason Galanis, a business partner of Hunter Biden convicted of fraud, raising questions about political motives and the use of executive clemency.

Key Takeaways

President Trump granted clemency to two of Hunter Biden’s former business partners, Devon Archer (full pardon) and Jason Galanis (sentence commutation)
Galanis was serving a 189-month sentence for defrauding Native Americans and other investors of approximately $80 million
Both men testified against Hunter Biden, claiming he leveraged his father’s political influence for business deals
Galanis hired Mark Paoletta, a lawyer with Trump connections, to assist with his commutation request
The White House provided no official rationale for granting clemency to Galanis

Presidential Clemency for Biden Associates

President Donald Trump has taken decisive action in granting clemency to Jason Galanis, a former business associate of Hunter Biden who was serving over 14 years in prison for multiple financial fraud schemes. This clemency, which eliminates both Galanis’s remaining prison time and financial penalties, was quietly signed by the President without public announcement. The Justice Department released the clemency notice with minimal fanfare, leaving many to speculate about the reasoning behind the decision.

Galanis becomes the second Hunter Biden associate to receive clemency, following Devon Archer who received a full pardon after being sentenced for defrauding a Native American tribal entity. Both men had significant ties to Hunter Biden’s business ventures and had provided testimony regarding these relationships. The timing of these clemency grants has raised questions about potential political considerations, particularly given both men’s participation in investigations into the Biden family’s business dealings.

Fraud Schemes and Serious Penalties

The crimes for which Galanis was serving time were substantial. In 2017, he received his sentence for orchestrating a bond scheme that defrauded the Oglala Sioux tribe and numerous pension fund investors. The court ordered him to forfeit $80 million and pay an equivalent amount in restitution to his victims. Trump’s clemency action effectively nullifies these financial obligations, raising concerns about justice for those who lost significant investments through Galanis’s fraudulent activities.

“the entire value add of Hunter Biden to our business was his family name and his access to his father, Vice President Joe Biden,” testified Galanis.

Galanis testified from prison during the Republican impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden, claiming he had involved Hunter Biden in his business dealings specifically to gain political connections. He alleged that Hunter Biden’s primary contribution to their business ventures was his family name and connections to his father. Hunter Biden, however, has consistently denied significant involvement in Galanis’s business operations, creating conflicting narratives about their professional relationship.

Political Considerations and Legal Strategies

The commutation appears to have been strategically pursued by Galanis, who hired Mark Paoletta, an attorney with established connections to President Trump, to assist with his clemency request. Galanis had testified before the House Oversight Committee, claiming Joe Biden was more involved in Hunter’s business dealings than publicly acknowledged. These statements aligned with narratives favorable to Trump and critical of the Biden family, though the impeachment inquiry ultimately found no evidence that Joe Biden supported his son’s business enterprises.

[Trump’s] “pardon corrects a serious injustice, and finally allows an innocent man to be free of the threat of misguided prosecution. Mr. Archer is deeply appreciative of the President,” Matthew Schwartz said.

Devon Archer’s attorney, Matthew Schwartz, expressed gratitude for Trump’s pardon of his client, stating it rectified a “serious injustice.” Schwartz maintained his client’s innocence despite the jury conviction, suggesting that sometimes “juries get it wrong.” This sentiment underscores the complex nature of these cases, where allegations of political influence and questionable business practices intersect with the criminal justice system. Trump’s clemency actions have ignited renewed debate about the appropriate use of presidential pardoning power and its potential political dimensions.