Hunter Biden’s federal tax trial, originally slated to begin in June, has been rescheduled to September after a U.S. District Judge granted a delay request from Biden’s legal team. This decision, announced Wednesday, comes as Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, also faces a separate federal gun charges trial set to commence in early June in Delaware. At a hearing, Judge Mark C. Scarsi approved the request to postpone the case to September 5th, as defense attorneys stated they require additional time to prepare with Hunter Biden.
Biden has pleaded not guilty to both the tax and gun charges. His lawyers claim that the indictments are politically motivated, a notion that amplifies the tension surrounding the upcoming presidential election. Both cases are being presided over by judges appointed to the bench by former President Donald Trump, a Republican who is seeking to unseat the Democratic president in November.
On Wednesday, prosecutors opposed the request for a delay, characterizing the case as a straightforward tax matter. Prosecutor Leo Wise conveyed to the judge, “The time to try this case is now.” Additionally, Justice Department special counsel David Weiss’ team asserted in a recent court filing, “He is not above the rule of law and should be treated like any other defendant.”
The tax indictment alleges that Hunter Biden failed to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes over four years, a period during which he has admitted to struggling with addiction. Prosecutors claim Biden led an “extravagant lifestyle” and have prepared approximately 30 witnesses to testify. Despite the gravity of the charges, Biden has since settled his back taxes.
Biden’s legal troubles extend beyond the tax case. In the separate gun charges trial, set to begin June 3, prosecutors allege that Biden lied about his drug use on a 2018 form while purchasing a firearm. This case has drawn significant attention, partly because prosecutors plan to introduce evidence from Biden’s 2021 memoir “Beautiful Things,” where he recounts his battle with addiction following his brother Beau’s death.
Lawyers representing Hunter Biden, who have advocated for dismissals and postponements in both cases, claim they have encountered difficulties in arranging expert witnesses to testify in the high-profile trial in Los Angeles. The attorney expressed concerns that Biden’s gun case may extend longer than anticipated, leaving insufficient time to shift focus to the tax case. “There’s too much to do,” he contended.
Despite the defense’s claims, Wise contended that the media attention and high-profile nature of the case should not affect the trial’s timeline. “There’s a lot of noise around this case,” Wise noted, but insisted that it does not make the case “complex or challenging.”
The extensive federal investigation into the president’s son appeared poised to conclude with a plea deal last year, but the agreement fell apart after a judge raised concerns. Subsequently, Hunter Biden was indicted. The proposed deal entailed pleading guilty to misdemeanor tax charges and receiving two years of probation. Additionally, he would have avoided prosecution for the gun charge if he remained law-abiding.
Relevant articles:
– Hunter Biden’s tax trial set for September after judge agrees to delay , The National Desk, 05/23/2024
– Hunter Biden’s tax trial set for September as judge agrees to delay, with gun trial still in June, The Associated Press, 05/22/2024
– Hunter Biden’s federal tax trial delayed until September, NBC Los Angeles, 05/23/2024
– Hunter Biden’s tax charges trial postponed until September, NBC News, 05/22/2024
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