Hunter Biden’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, vehemently objected to the tax charges against Hunter being labeled as “selective and vindictive,” stating that they would continue to fight against the abnormal handling of the investigation and charging of the case. US District Judge Mark Scarsi rejected Lowell’s claims of prosecutorial bias and decided that there was insufficient evidence of animus motivating the charges. Special counsel David Weiss, a Trump appointee, charged Hunter with a four-year tax scheme after a plea deal fell through.
Judge Scarsi, also a Trump appointee, dismissed Lowell’s attempts to have the tax charges against Hunter thrown out, critiquing the factual errors in the motions. Weiss’ team defended the charges against Hunter, denying any conspiracy theories raised by the defendant’s lawyer. Prosecutors claimed that Hunter failed to pay federal income taxes from 2017 to 2020, owing $1.4 million, which he has since paid. The tax charges include six misdemeanors and three felonies.
Lowell argued that the tax charges were impacted by external pressure from extremist Republicans and right-wing media, leading to the scuttling of the initial plea deal. A previous agreement between the defense and prosecutors was called into question by US District Judge Maryellen Noreika, bringing to light disagreements over immunity for Hunter. Despite protests from Lowell, Hunter pleaded not guilty to all nine tax charges and three firearm-related charges while under the influence of drugs.
Additionally, Hunter’s lawyer is seeking to have the firearm charges related to possession of an illegal weapon in Delaware dismissed. Hunter is facing separate trials in California for the tax charges and in Delaware for the firearm charges, with jury selection scheduled to begin on June 20 and a trial date set for June 3, respectively. The legal battles surrounding Hunter’s charges are ongoing, with the defense pushing back against the prosecution’s arguments and alleging political motivations behind the tax charges. The outcome of these court proceedings will determine Hunter Biden’s legal future and potential consequences for his actions.
