Hunter Biden Disbarred
Jill, Joe, and Hunter Biden during the 59th presidential inauguration ceremony in Washington, Jan. 20, 2021. Photo courtesy of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under CC BY 2.0.
Hunter Biden quietly took a legal step that's turning heads in Washington. After nearly a year of mounting legal trouble, felony convictions, and courtroom appearances, the former president's son agreed to give up his license to practice law in the nation's capital — with no public statement and no fight.
A Disbarment Without the Drama
On Tuesday, April 1, court records confirmed that Hunter Biden has consented to disbarment in the District of Columbia. The D.C. Court of Appeals received a formal "consent to disbarment" motion, filed under seal, ending his 17-year run as a licensed attorney in the capital, Fox News reports.
Biden had already been under temporary suspension since June 2024, following his felony conviction for lying on a gun purchase form. D.C. bar authorities cited Rule XI, which mandates suspension for any attorney convicted of a felony, according to Law & Crime. Rather than drag the proceedings out in public, Biden chose to step aside.
What's in the Affidavit? Nobody Knows
The contents of Biden's required affidavit were filed under seal and will remain confidential unless a judge or Biden himself authorizes its release. According to the consent motion, that document "shall not be publicly disclosed or made available for use in any other proceeding," as reported by Law & Crime.
Bar authorities also filed a supporting motion under seal — expected to be granted without much attention — meaning the disbarment will likely proceed swiftly and quietly.
How He Got Here: Gun Lies, Tax Crimes, and a Father's Pardon
Biden was found guilty on three felony counts in June 2024 for making false statements during a firearm purchase in 2018. Prosecutors leaned heavily on Biden's own words from his 2021 memoir "Beautiful Things," along with text messages, to show he was actively using crack cocaine at the time of the gun purchase.
Just months later, Biden stunned prosecutors by pleading guilty to multiple tax offenses — admitting he failed to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes between 2014 and 2019. That second trial was set to begin in fall 2024, but the plea halted it in its tracks.
In December, his father — then-President Joe Biden — issued a sweeping pardon, covering any crimes Hunter "has committed or may have committed" over a 10-year period ending in December 2024, according to Fox News.
This Isn't the End of Hunter's Legal Saga
Although he's stepped away from practicing law, Hunter Biden isn't finished with the courts. He's currently suing former Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne for defamation, claiming Byrne made false and damaging remarks about him in interviews aired in mid and late 2023, POLITICO reports.
That lawsuit is ongoing in the Central District of California, and Biden recently brought on high-profile defense attorney Dick Harpootlian — best known for representing convicted killer Alex Murdaugh — as part of his legal team.
With his law license now all but officially gone, Hunter Biden's once-promising legal career has ended with a sealed affidavit and three felony convictions. Though he's been shielded from further prosecution by his father's sweeping pardon, the court of public opinion — and Congress — may not let this saga end quietly.
References: 'Consent to disbarment': Hunter Biden voluntarily gives up law license, dodges hearings over felony convictions | Hunter Biden Hunter Biden agrees to be stripped of license to practice law in DC: court records | Hunter Biden sues former Overstock.com CEO
