WASHINGTON– Hunter Biden pressed Monday for a delay in his federal gun case, asking an appeals court to halt the Delaware trial set to begin next month.
Defense attorneys for the president’s son argued there was no rush to begin the trial on the June 3 date set by the federal judge overseeing the case. They also cite the short time that passed between the Delaware trial and the start of another tax trial in California.
Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to lying about his drug use in October 2018 on a form to purchase a gun that he kept for about 11 days in Delaware. He admitted to being addicted to crack cocaine during this period, but his lawyers said he did not break the law.
The attorneys are asking the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to hear a request to dismiss the lawsuits. She was rejected by a three-judge panel who did not rule on the merits of her claims but said the court did not have jurisdiction to review the case.
The attorneys are also appealing a separate ruling by U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika rejecting the claim that the case violates the Constitution’s Second Amendment on gun ownership.
These decisions paved the way for the Justice Department to bring President Joe Biden’s son to justice, in the midst of the president’s re-election campaign. Hunter Biden is separately charged in the California tax case tentatively scheduled for trial in late June.
The investigation appeared poised to lead to a plea deal last year, but the deal imploded after a judge raised questions about it. Biden was subsequently indicted.
Under the terms of the agreement, he would have received two years’ probation after pleading guilty to tax crimes. He also would have avoided gun charges if he had stayed out of trouble.
His lawyers argued that prosecutors bowed to political pressure to charge him, amid strong criticism of the plea deal from Donald Trump and other Republicans. They had also challenged the appointment of Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss as special counsel to lead the prosecution.
Prosecutors countered that the evidence against him was “overwhelming,” including cocaine residue found in the pouch where he stored his gun.
Noreika, who was appointed to the bench by former President Trump, said the defense has provided “nothing credible” to suggest that lawmakers or anyone else had an impact on the special prosecutor, adding: “This is just speculation.”
Separate Los Angeles tax filings allege Hunter Biden failed to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes over three years while living an ‘extravagant lifestyle,’ during his drinking years drug. He separately challenges decisions denying his motions to dismiss those charges.
ABC News
