The recently announced plea deal for Hunter Biden, involving a felony gun charge and two tax misdemeanors, has drawn sharp criticism from several 2024 presidential candidates. They've accused the Justice Department of corruption and partisan bias.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, for example, quickly took to Twitter, alleging Hunter Biden received preferential treatment due to his family connections. DeSantis argued that an ordinary citizen would have faced harsher consequences. He also shared a video from a campaign event emphasizing the perceived double standard in the American justice system.

Former President Donald Trump also weighed in, characterizing the plea deal as a mere "traffic ticket." He condemned the justice system as corrupt and suggested the deal constituted election interference. Trump, currently facing his own legal challenges, drew a parallel to his own family, claiming that his sons would have been treated differently under similar circumstances.

Other Republican contenders joined the chorus of criticism. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy argued the plea deal aimed to create public amnesia surrounding other allegations against Hunter Biden. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley characterized it as a "double standard of justice," while presidential candidate Larry Elder pointed to it as further evidence of a "partisan justice system." Senator Tim Scott echoed these sentiments, expressing concern over the erosion of public trust in the Department of Justice.

Under the terms of the agreement, Hunter Biden will plead guilty to failing to pay federal income tax and enter a pretrial diversion program for a firearm possession charge. The U.S. Attorney for Delaware, David Weiss, stated that the investigation remains ongoing. The plea deal, however, must still receive judicial approval.

Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declined to comment extensively on the matter, stating he lacked sufficient information. He acknowledged the complexities of family matters and chose to defer to President Biden on the issue.

Hunter Biden's legal counsel indicated that the five-year investigation has concluded with this agreement. The White House issued a brief statement expressing love and support for Hunter Biden as he rebuilds his life. The investigation into Hunter Biden began in 2018, stemming from suspicious activity reports related to financial transactions with foreign entities and a firearm purchase incident.

A 2018 police report detailed an incident where Hallie Biden, the widow of Beau Biden, disposed of a gun belonging to Hunter Biden. A firearm transaction report confirmed Hunter Biden's purchase of the weapon earlier that month.