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June 20, 2023
Hunter Biden agrees to plea deal seeking to avoid prison time on tax and gun charges
As reported in this Politico piece, "Hunter Biden has reached a deal with federal prosecutors to resolve a five-year federal investigation into his failure to pay about $1 million in federal taxes and his purchase of a handgun in 2018." Here is more:
Under an agreement detailed Tuesday in a filing in federal court in Delaware, President Joe Biden’s son will plead guilty to a pair of misdemeanor tax charges. Prosecutors have also charged him with possessing a firearm while being a user of illegal drugs — a felony — but have agreed to dismiss that charge if he completes a two-year period of probation.
Hunter Biden, 53, is unlikely to serve time in prison if he complies with release conditions. The deal calls for both sides to recommend that he be put on probation.
The probe was overseen by Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump and was permitted to stay in his post after Joe Biden took office in order to complete the investigation of the president’s son. The White House and the Justice Department have said they did not interfere with Weiss’ investigation.
A one-page document from federal prosecutors to the federal court in Delaware outlining the plea deal is available here.
June 20, 2023 at 10:09 AM | Permalink
Comments
'rat privilege.
Posted by: federalist | Jun 20, 2023 10:25:21 AM
Doug: Because Hunter Biden could easily have argued that the 922(g) gun charge [possession of a firearm by a drug addict] is unConstitutional under the 2022 Supreme Court decision, I suspect that for the diversion, Hunter will plead "nolo contendere" (no contest), not GUILTY. Hunter has previously paid the extra $1.2 million in past due taxes, interest and penalties due. The prosecutors plainly don't want him contesting Constitutionality and taking the issue up to the Supreme Court. I think Hunter also needs finality on the Federal criminal investigation because he is being pressured for financial records in his Arkansas child support case, where a trial is scheduled for July 2023. Hunter is already paying $20,000 per month in child support. But the obvious issue is that he isn't being charged with anything related to his business dealings in the Ukraine, or funneling bribes to his father.
Posted by: Jim Gormley | Jun 20, 2023 10:59:59 AM
He lied on the form, Jim.
Posted by: federalist | Jun 20, 2023 11:08:45 AM
Weiss was appointed by Obama and allowed to stay on by Trump due to furious lobbying effort by Delaware's two Dem senators.Hes not a "Trump appointee".
Posted by: Al Felker | Jun 20, 2023 11:14:15 AM
Jim - I've never seen a nolo contendere in the federal system (do hey exist?) - I would suspect a guilty plea, which is either not accepted (or conditionally accepted), then placed into diversion...
Posted by: atomicfrog | Jun 20, 2023 11:25:26 AM
Let's not forget that this POS was busted out of the Navy for failing a urinalysis. That should be part of the sentencing process.
Posted by: federalist | Jun 20, 2023 11:32:42 AM
atomicfrog, to the best of my recollection Spiro Agnew pleaded no contest. Don't know if any since.
Posted by: Michael R. Levine | Jun 20, 2023 12:28:26 PM
So what's the deal, Federalist? You so disagree with Joe Biden's policies that you automatically assume he must be guilty of something ("Democrats are all corrupt"), so this prosecution of his son doesn't do the political damage you'd hoped it would?
Posted by: Da Man | Jun 20, 2023 2:37:08 PM
It's pretty obvious that this is a sweetheart deal.
Posted by: federalist | Jun 20, 2023 3:03:47 PM
So you've seen the evidence?
Posted by: Da Man | Jun 20, 2023 3:11:24 PM
Dude, how many SARs were filed against HUnter, and those who cheat on their taxes to the tune of over $1MM--they usually get some time.
Posted by: federalist | Jun 20, 2023 3:30:40 PM
Or they get pardoned by a President who is from the same political party and do no jail time at all.
https://www.nj.com/politics/2022/07/in-stunning-comeback-after-trump-pardon-gilmore-to-return-as-ocean-county-republican-chairman.html
But I digress
Posted by: Da Man | Jun 20, 2023 3:51:15 PM
Da Man: Two words: Marc Rich.
Posted by: federalist | Jun 20, 2023 3:57:52 PM
Because Doug would never have a post citing these guys, here it is:
https://bearingarms.com/camedwards/2023/06/20/hunter-biden-and-the-double-standards-at-doj-n71694
Posted by: federalist | Jun 20, 2023 4:45:45 PM
I joined DOJ in September 1974, close to 50 years ago. I never heard of the feds accepting a nolo plea, and much less as part of a plea bargain. My experience is that you either pled guilty or you went to trial. There was no third option. But for however that may be as a theoretical matter, all the reports here are that it's a guilty plea.
The court may refuse to accept it, but that very seldom happens.
Posted by: Bill Otis | Jun 20, 2023 6:17:56 PM
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-intentionally-provocative-hunter-biden-plea-deal/
What Andy McCarthy has to say about this disgusting spectacle. The DOJ has no moral right to prosecute anyone.
Posted by: federalist | Jun 20, 2023 6:27:36 PM
Bill,
You joined DOJ when I was three. You must have gone to law school with Hammurabi.
Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jun 21, 2023 12:36:23 PM
TarlsQtr --
Oh sure, I knew Hammurabi. He loaned me some of his clay tablets.
Posted by: Bill Otis | Jun 22, 2023 11:25:20 PM
