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A federal judge has rejected Hunter Biden’s attempt to dismiss his indictment on federal tax charges.
Let’s bring you up to speed: Hunter Biden is facing federal charges for not paying taxes on over $1.5 million of income earned in 2017 and 2018. The charges were brought forward after the appointment of a special counsel.
What’s going on now: The judge presiding over Hunter Biden’s case rejected his attempt to dismiss the federal tax charges this year. Biden’s lawyers argued that Special Counsel David Weiss’s appointment was improper and lacked congressional approval, citing recent rulings on special counsel appointments related to Trump. However, US District Judge Mark Scarsi ruled there was “no valid basis” for reconsideration and noted that Biden’s motion was late, filed after the deadline. As a result, the indictment stands, and the trial is set for September, with Biden pleading not guilty.
Other cases: Hunter Biden is also facing federal gun charges, accused of unlawfully possessing a firearm while using illegal drugs, which is against federal law. Biden’s attorneys have sought to dismiss these charges as well, arguing that the appointment of Special Counsel David Weiss was flawed, similar to their arguments in the tax case.
Digging Deeper: The news that Hunter will stand for his criminal trial comes as controversy surrounds a federal judge’s rejection of a proposed plea deal. The deal, negotiated between Biden’s legal team and federal prosecutors, would have allowed him to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges while avoiding prosecution on a separate gun charge. However, during a court hearing, US District Judge Maryellen Noreika rejected the deal over concerns about the broad immunity it granted Hunter from future charges. She also questioned if the plea deal was legal and fair.
