Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, is facing a tax case that is moving closer to a possible trial after a judge denied eight motions to dismiss the indictment accusing him of avoiding paying $1.4 million in taxes. Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to the nine felony and misdemeanor tax offenses filed in Los Angeles. His attorney claimed that the prosecution is politically motivated, but the judge found little support for these claims, stating that there was no evidence of discriminatory effect or purpose.
Hunter Biden’s attorney expressed disagreement with the court’s decision and stated that they will continue to vigorously pursue challenges. The ruling follows a three-hour hearing where the judge seemed skeptical of the defense and dismissed claims related to the timing of the charges, leaks from IRS agents, and the appointment of the special counsel overseeing the case. Hunter Biden has also been charged in Delaware with lying on a federal form to buy a gun in 2018, where he falsely claimed he was not addicted to illegal drugs despite being addicted to crack cocaine at the time.
Both sets of charges against Hunter Biden stem from a yearslong federal investigation that was expected to conclude with a plea deal over the summer. The proposed plea deal would have involved two years of probation after pleading guilty to misdemeanor tax charges and repaying back taxes. However, the deal unraveled after a federal judge in Delaware raised concerns about its approval process. If convicted of the tax charges, Hunter Biden, 53, could face a maximum of 17 years in prison. The cases are overseen by special counsel David Weiss, with tentative trials scheduled for June. Hunter Biden’s defense attorneys are also working to get the Delaware gun charges dismissed.
The original proposed plea deal for Hunter Biden was criticized as a “sweetheart deal” by Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, who is facing his own legal challenges, including charges related to overturning the results of the 2020 election. The deal for Hunter Biden fell apart after it was revealed that it did not receive the required approval of a probation officer. Despite the ongoing legal battles, President Joe Biden continues his campaign for another term in office as the legal proceedings involving his son unfold. Defense attorneys continue to challenge the charges against Hunter Biden, maintaining that the handling of the case has been abnormal and politically motivated.
