First son Hunter Biden will plead not guilty to lying about being addicted to cocaine when he bought a gun in 2018, his attorney revealed in a court filing Tuesday.
The 53-year-old’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, made the disclosure in a letter asking US Magistrate Judge Christopher Burke to waive the requirement that Hunter appear in person for the hearing.
“Regardless of whether it’s in person or virtually, he will waive the reading of the indictment, which is only a few pages long and could easily be read on a video conference,” Lowell wrote. “Mr. Biden will also plead not guilty, and there’s no reason why he can’t say those two words via video conference.”
Lowell said the first son would create a “logistical burden” for officials coordinating live appearances in federal court in Wilmington, Del., along with various financial costs borne by the US Secret Service and the US Marshals Service.
“Without knowing the specifics, many agents and vehicles are needed for the two-day event,” Lowell wrote. “This includes agents and vehicles in California and in Delaware, as well as agents who must travel with him on the plane.”
Video conference hearings have also “become commonplace” during the COVID-19 pandemic and remain an “efficient” alternative, he added, noting he found it “puzzling” that federal prosecutors are against it.
On September 14, federal prosecutors charged the first child with three counts of making false statements about his drug use on the purchase form for a Colt Cobra revolver in October 2018.
Allegations against Hunter Biden
COUNT 1: False Statement in the Purchase of a Firearm
Facing a maximum prison sentence of 10 years; $250,000 fine; 3 years of supervised release; special assessment $100.
COUNT 2: False Statement Regarding Information Required to Be Maintained by a Licensed Federal Firearms Dealer
Facing a maximum prison sentence of 5 years; $250,000 fine; 3 years of supervised release; special assessment $100.
COURT 3: Possession of a Firearm by a Person Who is an Unlawful User or Addicted to a Controlled Substance
Facing a maximum prison sentence of 10 years; $250,000 fine; 3 years of supervised release; special assessment $100.
Hunter Biden has admitted in his 2021 memoir “Beautiful Things” that he abused narcotics during that time period. The federal charges carry a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
He could also face additional charges in Washington, DC, and Los Angeles after IRS whistleblowers claimed the Justice Department prevented them from fully investigating evidence of potential tax fraud and illegal foreign lobbying.
In an explosive revelation, IRS supervisory agent Gary Shapley and IRS special case agent Joseph Ziegler revealed that Hunter threatened a Chinese business associate in a WhatsApp message on July 30, 2017 that he “sat” next to his father and would “forever hold a grudge.” if an agreement involving a $5.1 million payment to a Biden associate does not materialize.
IRS investigators also said prosecutors in Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss’ office prevented them from pursuing an investigation that might implicate President Biden — and told Hunter about plans to search his storage unit and conduct a personal interview.
Shapley further alleged that Weiss told him and other IRS and FBI officials during an October 2022 meeting that he had been denied special counsel or the ability to prosecute the first child outside of Delaware.
Hunter Biden allegedly lied about the fact that he was addicted to cocaine when he bought a gun in 2018.
Some of those officials have testified to Congress that they did not call Weiss to make the claim.
Weiss, a Trump appointee recommended to be Delaware’s top prosecutor by the state’s Democratic senators, only announced preliminary charges against the first son after IRS whistleblowers revealed their allegations of cover-ups.
Attorney General Merrick Garland, who in sworn testimony to Congress said Weiss had the authority to prosecute Hunter Biden, elevated the Delaware US attorney’s status to special counsel on Aug. 11 to continue the investigation.
House Republicans have since launched an impeachment inquiry into Biden’s alleged involvement in his son’s business dealings, claiming they lack confidence in Weiss’ ability to conduct a thorough investigation.
A plea deal with Hunter’s lawyers publicly failed during a July court hearing.REUTERS
Hunter’s last appearance in court ended with a decision by his legal team to abandon a plea deal that would have slapped him with two years of probation for failing to pay taxes on more than $2 million in foreign earnings from entities in China and Ukraine, among others.
His firearms offense will also be expunged if he completes the probation.
During a hearing on July 26, US District Judge Maryellen Noreika of Delaware pressed federal prosecutors to say whether a provision in Hunter’s diversion agreement for the gun charge provides immunity from past crimes.
The first son may have violated other federal laws not included in Weiss’ June 20 indictment as part of his overseas business ventures, including possible violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
According to a Tuesday filing by his attorney, Hunter was processed and fingerprinted and photographed in a Wilmington court after his plea deal blew up.
In a previous order signed by Noreika, Hunter also agreed to conditions of release, including showing up for all court dates, staying sober, submitting to a drug test, finding a job and informing the court of all his travel plans.
Lowell said in the most recent filing that Hunter has “met his conditions scrupulously since returning to California.”
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
