A high-stakes legal battle reaches a crescendo with the Supreme Court's latest decision.
The Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from Hunter Biden's former business associate, Devon Archer, solidifying his criminal conviction.
The top court's refusal to engage with Devon Archer's appeal marks the latest turn in a judicial saga filled with unexpected reversals.
Archer, who once held a position at Burisma Holdings alongside Hunter Biden, finds his legal avenues narrowing. The 2018 conviction for defrauding a Native American tribe of $60 million through fraudulent bonds seemed initially upended when a federal judge questioned the evidence against him.
However, as the wheels of justice turned, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals saw fit to reinstate Archer's conviction. This reinstatement came as a prelude to the 2020 elections amidst an atmosphere already thick with political tension. The decision underscored an enduring theme: the finality of the appellate courts in scrutinizing lower court decisions.
In February of the following year, Judge Ronnie Abrams of Manhattan mandated a one-year and one-day prison term for Archer. This sentence came despite her previous concerns regarding the evidence of Archer's involvement in the fraudulent scheme. Judge Abrams had initially found no proof that Archer was aware of the bond issue's fraudulent nature or that he had gained personally from it.
Yet, by 2022, the judge acknowledged the gravity of the offense and the impact on the victims, leading to the prison sentence. It was a turn that seemed to contradict the earlier sympathy towards Archer's position. Matthew Schwartz, Archer's attorney, described the judge's position in a statement:
Mr. Archer is obviously disappointed with today’s sentence, and intends to appeal. It is unfortunate that the judge, who has previously expressed concern that Mr. Archer is innocent of the crimes charged and reiterated that belief today, felt that she was constrained not to act on her independent assessment of the evidence.
Archer's defense has been unyielding, with Schwartz planning a series of appeals that delayed the commencement of the prison term. The intricate legal maneuvers highlight the persistence of Archer's defense team in challenging the conviction. Despite the high-profile nature of the case, due to Archer's association with Hunter Biden, Biden himself was not implicated in the fraudulent scheme.
Schwartz did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital, leaving some aspects of Archer's defense strategy unilluminated. The case, thus, remains a focal point for discussions on the American legal system and its handling of white-collar crime.
The Supreme Court's choice not to hear Devon Archer's appeal cements a significant chapter in a case that has captured media attention due to its ties to Hunter Biden, despite Biden's non-involvement in the fraud.
Archer's conviction for defrauding a Native American tribe seems set in stone following a series of legal back-and-forths that saw his initial conviction overturned and then reinstated.
Amidst all turns, Archer's legal team remains adamant about his innocence, facing a one-year and one-day sentence that underscores the severity of white-collar crime and its consequences. As the legal process unfolds, the case stands as a testament to the complexities of the American judicial system and the ramifications of high-profile legal battles.
