Ex-Hunter Biden Partner Devon Archer Asks for Less Jail Time

Devon Archer, the former business partner of first son Hunter Biden, on Wednesday asked a federal judge to reduce his one-year prison term for defrauding a Native American tribe, citing his cooperation in congressional investigations of the first family, the New York Post reported.

In July, Archer, 58, delivered testimony to the House Oversight Committee that connected President Joe Biden to his son's foreign business dealings during his time as vice president in the Obama White House.

"Before setting a report date for Mr. Archer, we respectfully request that the Court instead first take up the undisputed Guidelines calculation error from his sentencing, grant him habeas relief, and proceed to resentencing," Archer attorney Matthew Schwartz wrote to Manhattan federal Judge Ronnie Abrams, citing an "undisputed ... two-level reduction" due to the fact that Archer played a "minor role" in uncharged conduct.

The court filing, which was obtained by the Post, adds that Archer has performed "substantial civic duties" by flipping on the Bidens and providing evidence of the family's alleged corruption.

"For the foregoing reasons, Mr. Archer respectfully requests that the Court grant Mr. Archer habeas relief, vacate his sentence, and proceed to immediate resentencing after giving the parties an opportunity to submit supplemental sentencing memoranda that would permit the Court to take into account Mr. Archer's changed circumstances since Mr. Archer's February 28, 2022 sentencing," Schwartz said.

"This updated submission is necessary to address the substantial civic duties Mr. Archer has undertaken in the two years since the previous sentencing, including Mr. Archer's extensive cooperation with federal investigators, continued fundraising for multiple non-profit organizations, and sustained support for equal opportunity youth sports.

"Among other things, Mr. Archer met with prosecutors from the District of Delaware and Main Justice and testified before a grand jury there in connection with the investigation of Hunter Biden (and presumably will be called as a witness in the ongoing prosecution of Mr. Biden, should it proceed to trial), and he also voluntarily testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability regarding its investigation into the Biden family's domestic and foreign business dealings.

"The Court should consider, in any resentencing, Mr. Archer's changed circumstances and continued and good-faith participation with various governmental investigations, as well as his continued commitment to charitable and educational causes, and of course his flawless record on pretrial release over the course of nearly eight years," Schwartz concluded.

In June 2018, Archer was convicted by a federal jury of two felonies for his involvement in selling more than $60 million in fraudulent bonds for a South Dakota Oglala Sioux tribal entity. On top of the one-year prison sentence, he was ordered to pay restitution of $43.4 million and forfeit $15.7 million.

Ruling there wasn't enough evidence against him, Abrams overturned Archer's conviction in 2018, but the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated it in 2020.