Civil rights advocates are urging President Joe Biden to pardon former Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, following his unexpected pardon of his son, Hunter Biden.
The decision to pardon Hunter, despite Biden’s earlier stance against intervening in his son’s legal troubles, has reignited debates about selective justice.
Mosby, who was convicted earlier this year on charges of mortgage fraud and perjury, is currently serving a year of house arrest, followed by two years of supervised release.
Her legal team is appealing the case, while the Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland has called for her law license to be suspended, a request denied by the Maryland Supreme Court as her appeal is pending.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump and political strategist Angela Rye issued a joint statement on Monday, calling for equity in the justice system.
“Thousands of people are wrongfully convicted and sit in federal prisons today. While Hunter Biden was selectively prosecuted, he’s not the only one,” the statement read, highlighting Mosby’s case as emblematic of broader systemic issues.
Crump and Rye also drew parallels to Kim Gardner, a former St. Louis circuit attorney who faced ethics violations over minor expenses and was compelled to take a plea deal.
They criticized what they called a double standard in how justice is applied to prominent Black leaders.
Mosby’s conviction has drawn widespread criticism from civil rights leaders and organizations, including the NAACP, the Rev. Al Sharpton, and members of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Many contend that Mosby, a vocal advocate for racial justice and police reform, was unfairly targeted by the Trump administration.
Leo Wise, one of the lead prosecutors in Mosby’s case, also played a role in Hunter Biden’s legal battles, further fueling allegations of selective prosecution.
The calls for a pardon echo earlier appeals made prior to Mosby’s sentencing, when advocates urged Biden to intervene on her behalf.
“Marilyn Mosby is on house arrest right now with her law license hanging in the balance over purchasing property with her own money,” Crump and Rye noted. “Justice should not depend on one’s connections or circumstances.”
Biden’s decision to pardon Hunter, who faced federal convictions for gun possession and tax charges, has led to demands for the president to use his pardon power to address other cases of alleged injustice.
