Indictment on Gun Charges for Hunter Biden Expected as Prosecutors Prepare for This Month

Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, may be facing a trial after a plea deal between his lawyers and federal prosecutors collapsed. The deal, which involved Hunter Biden pleading guilty to two tax misdemeanors and resolving one felony gun count through a pretrial diversion agreement, was questioned by a judge at a hearing in July. The judge asked for more information about the level of protection the deal offered Hunter Biden from future prosecution. As a result, the deal fell apart.

Following the collapse of the plea deal, Attorney General Merrick Garland granted “special counsel” status to David Weiss, the Trump-appointed federal prosecutor overseeing the investigation into Hunter Biden. This move signaled that the investigation would continue independently. However, IRS agents who worked on the case have testified to Congress that they faced political interference while investigating the president’s son, raising concerns about the impartiality of the investigation.

House Republicans have accused Weiss of offering Hunter Biden a lenient deal and have criticized the decision not to pursue more serious charges related to his alleged tax crimes. They have also raised questions about Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings, particularly in China and Ukraine. Republicans are preparing to launch an impeachment inquiry against President Biden due to his son’s foreign business activities.

If Hunter Biden goes to trial, it could have significant implications for both the impeachment inquiry and his father’s 2024 presidential campaign. The timeline for the trial is subject to the Speedy Trial Act, with the government’s deadline for indicting Hunter Biden set for September 29. Prosecutors will seek to have a grand jury indict him before that date.

In response to the latest developments, Hunter Biden’s lead defense lawyer, Abbe Lowell, filed an update in federal court in Delaware. In the filing, Lowell hinted at part of his client’s defense strategy, arguing that the signed agreement between the Justice Department and Hunter Biden, which includes language protecting him from prosecution, is still in effect.

The investigation into Hunter Biden began during the Trump administration but was kept confidential until after the 2020 election. Weiss, who was appointed by Trump as the U.S. attorney in Delaware, faced pushback from Hunter Biden’s lawyers, with one defense attorney even threatening to put President Biden on the stand if charges were brought against his son.

Despite the collapse of the plea deal, the question of whether the pretrial diversion agreement is still valid remains. Prosecutors argue that it is null, while Hunter Biden’s lawyers believe it is still in effect. This disagreement is likely to be addressed if a grand jury indicts Hunter Biden.

The trial, if it proceeds, will be a highly sensitive and unprecedented case. It will pit prosecutors in the executive branch against the president’s son and could have significant political implications. The investigation and potential trial will continue to be closely watched as it unfolds.

Original Story at www.politico.com – 2023-09-06 21:49:34