U.S. President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, faced a setback in his proposed deal with prosecutors as the judge in the case requested more time to review the agreement, Reuters reports.
This development means that Hunter Biden's legal troubles will continue to be a point of concern for the president as he campaigns for re-election in 2024. The plea hearing, which was expected to be routine, turned into a three-hour affair with intense negotiations between lawyers and probing questions from U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika.
At the hearing, Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to tax charges related to failing to pay taxes on over $1.5mn in income in 2017 and 2018. He also faced a separate charge of unlawfully owning a firearm while addicted to and using a controlled substance, a felony. The plea deal was met with disagreement between Hunter Biden's lawyers and prosecutors regarding its scope and whether it would prevent him from facing charges on other offenses.
Republicans have long accused Hunter Biden of using his father's political influence for personal gain in his business dealings in Ukraine and China. However, the investigation led by U.S. Attorney David Weiss of Delaware, a Trump appointee, has not provided evidence to support these claims. The plea deal announcement in June drew criticism from former President Donald Trump and his Republican allies, who alleged favorable treatment for the president's son.
While White House spokesperson Karine Jeane-Pierre stated that President Biden supports his son and considers this a personal matter, the case remains politically charged. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Weiss have both denied accusations of special treatment and asserted that the investigation was conducted independently.
Hunter Biden's diverse career and public discussions about his struggles with addiction have been a topic of public interest. Trump, who himself faces legal challenges, has criticized Hunter Biden's proposed deal as inconsequential compared to his own legal issues.
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