The federal judge has denied Hunter Biden’s attempts to dismiss his felony tax indictment, setting the stage for a trial in June. Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, has pleaded not guilty to all nine charges, which include failure to file and pay taxes on time and engaging in a tax-evasion scheme. The judge rejected Hunter Biden’s arguments of political motivation behind the indictment, stating that there was little evidence to support this claim.
Special counsel David Weiss obtained a victory as US District Judge Mark Scarsi upheld the felony indictment against Hunter Biden. The judge criticized Hunter Biden’s lawyers for relying on news articles and social media posts as evidence of bias against him. Scarsi also dismissed claims that Weiss was improperly appointed as special counsel and disagreed with the assertion that the case should be thrown out due to the actions of IRS agents involved in the investigation.
Hunter Biden’s lead attorney expressed disagreement with the court’s decision and vowed to continue challenging the handling of the case by the Special Counsel. The judge also rejected attempts to dismiss some of the charges in the indictment, ruling that the statute of limitations had not expired on one charge and that there was insufficient evidence to dispute Hunter Biden’s California residency for other charges. The judge’s findings supported the integrity and nonpartisan nature of Weiss’ work.
An earlier diversion agreement between Weiss and Hunter Biden did not go into effect due to a missing signature from a probation officer. The agreement stipulated that the officer’s signature was necessary for it to be valid, leaving Hunter Biden without immunity in relation to the tax charges. Hunter Biden also faces charges in Delaware related to alleged gun crimes, with a trial set to begin in June, prior to the tax trial in California. The Delaware judge has yet to rule on Hunter Biden’s attempts to dismiss that case.
Overall, the judge’s ruling supports the indictment against Hunter Biden and rejects his arguments of political motivation and improper appointment of the Special Counsel. The upcoming trials in June will address the felony tax charges in California and the alleged gun crimes in Delaware, with Hunter Biden maintaining his innocence in both cases. The outcome of these trials will be crucial in determining the legal fate of President Joe Biden’s son.
