UPDATED: In a surprising turn of events, Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to federal tax charges after a judge rejected a plea agreement between him and prosecutors. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika expressed concerns about a diversion program that Biden would enter as part of a deal related to another charge involving felony possession of a firearm. The judge raised constitutional issues regarding the gun diversion agreement. This decision puts the plea deal on hold, and a future hearing will be scheduled. Both sides have been given 30 days to address the judge’s concerns.
The judge’s decision to halt the deal came as a surprise, as it seemed to have fallen apart earlier in the day. Biden’s attorneys believed that the plea deal would protect him from future charges. However, the Justice Department stated that the investigation is ongoing and did not rule out the possibility of future charges.
Eventually, it appears that the two sides reached a resolution, with Biden’s team agreeing to more limited plea terms that cover charges related to his drug use, firearm possession, and taxes, while the investigation continues.
PREVIOUSLY: A plea agreement between the Justice Department and Hunter Biden fell apart on Wednesday after the federal judge overseeing the case raised concerns about the terms. Biden was set to plead guilty to two tax violations and enter a diversion agreement for felony possession of a firearm. The agreement sparked controversy as it sought to link the president’s son’s business dealings to Joe Biden himself.
According to CNN, Judge Maryellen Noreika questioned the agreement, leading to a disagreement between prosecutors and Biden’s defense team regarding the possibility of additional charges. Prosecutors stated that their investigation was ongoing and that Biden could face additional charges related to acting as an unregistered foreign lobbyist. Biden’s legal team argued that the plea agreement meant that potential charges were no longer a concern.
Both sides are currently in discussions, but the unexpected turn of events has dominated the news cycle. Earlier, there was anticipation that the judge would approve the agreement, but after an hour, it became clear that the deal was in doubt.
The plea deal announcement prompted House Republicans to claim that Hunter Biden was receiving favorable treatment due to his father’s position. The federal investigation into Hunter Biden’s business dealings began in 2018, and U.S. Attorney David Weiss, a Trump appointee who remained in his position under the Biden administration, has denied allegations of undue influence. However, two IRS whistleblowers testified last week that the Justice Department hindered the investigation and prevented felony charges against Hunter Biden. The House Judiciary Committee has offered Weiss the opportunity to testify.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy suggested the possibility of launching an impeachment inquiry against Joe Biden based on unproven claims of corruption by Biden family members. However, McCarthy reportedly stated in a GOP conference that the investigation had not reached the level of impeachment. The White House responded to McCarthy’s remarks, questioning the media’s coverage of his statements.
Overall, the case involving Hunter Biden’s plea deal has taken unexpected twists and continues to generate significant attention.
