Despite facing multiple criminal charges and potentially violating professional conduct rules, Hunter Biden's membership in the Washington, D.C. Bar remains active and in "good standing." This information, initially reported by the Daily Caller, was confirmed through the D.C. Bar's website.
During his initial court appearance in Wilmington, Delaware—where his anticipated plea deal fell apart—Biden himself stated his membership in both the D.C. and Connecticut Bars. The D.C. Bar's rules of professional conduct stipulate that committing a criminal act reflecting negatively on a lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness, or professional fitness constitutes misconduct. Furthermore, offenses like fraud and intentional failure to file income tax returns are specifically cited as examples of conduct that negatively impacts fitness to practice law.
Hunter Biden arriving at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, New York, on Air Force One. (REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz)
Biden has pleaded "not guilty" to two counts of willful failure to pay federal income tax. The failed plea agreement also acknowledged Biden's "well-documented and long-standing struggle with substance abuse," a factor that, according to bar rules, can lead to probationary conditions. Separate bar regulations also prohibit lawyers from suggesting they can improperly influence government officials.
Courtroom sketch of Hunter Biden in a Wilmington, Delaware federal courtroom. (COURTESY: William J. Hennessy, Jr.)
Testimony from an IRS whistleblower during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing in May revealed a 2017 text message where Biden allegedly leveraged his father's presence to exert pressure on a Chinese business associate. Despite expressing support for their son after his not guilty pleas, the White House, through press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, has dismissed the possibility of a presidential pardon for Hunter Biden.
Another courtroom sketch depicting Hunter Biden in the Wilmington, Delaware federal courtroom. (COURTESY: William J. Hennessy, Jr.)
Following attempts to steer reporters away from Hunter Biden's legal troubles, the White House repeatedly declined to address questions about the collapsed plea agreement. The D.C. Bar has refrained from commenting on disciplinary matters, stating that attorney discipline falls outside its jurisdiction.
