Title: U.S. Prosecutors Seek Indictment of President Biden’s Son, Hunter, in Tax and Firearms Case
Subtitle: Legal Battle Intensifies as Criminal Charges Loom Ahead of 2024 Presidential Election
Date: September 6, 2023
WASHINGTON – U.S. prosecutors announced on Wednesday their intention to seek an indictment of Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, by September 29th in relation to his ongoing tax and firearms case. The filing comes as the legal battle between the prosecutors and Hunter Biden’s defense team escalates, raising concerns over the potential impact on the upcoming 2024 presidential election.
David Weiss, who was appointed U.S. special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland last month, submitted a court filing asserting that the government would pursue a grand jury indictment within the Speedy Trial Act’s deadline. “The government intends to seek the return of an indictment in this case before that date,” Weiss wrote in his status report.
The announcement follows U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika’s rejection of a proposed plea deal in July that aimed to resolve the tax and gun charges against Hunter Biden. Noreika cited concerns over the deal’s legality and the extent of immunity it offered to the President’s son.
Hunter Biden’s lawyers have accused the prosecutors of reneging on the plea deal outlined in court filings last month, casting uncertainty on the potential for a criminal trial as the 2024 presidential election looms.
In response to the indictment announcement, Hunter Biden’s attorney Abbe Lowell expressed confidence that the previously signed and filed diversion agreement remained valid. Lowell stated, “We believe the signed and filed diversion agreement remains valid and prevents any additional charges from being filed against Mr. Biden,” stressing that Hunter had been complying with the conditions of the agreement during the past few weeks. These conditions include regular visits to the probation office.
Lowell further emphasized their expectation for a fair resolution of the long-running investigation and asserted that any outcome would be based on evidence and the law rather than external political pressure. “We expect a fair resolution of the sprawling, 5-year investigation into Mr. Biden that was based on the evidence and the law, not outside political pressure, and we’ll do what is necessary on behalf of Mr. Biden to achieve that,” he said.
If the case indeed progresses to a trial, it could coincide with President Joe Biden’s campaign for reelection in November 2024, potentially putting further strain on the political landscape. Notably, former President Donald Trump, who now faces multiple criminal trials of his own next year, would likely be his main rival.
Attorney General Merrick Garland has staunchly denied accusations of favoritism and elevated Weiss, a former U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware appointed by Trump, as the special counsel overseeing the Hunter Biden investigation. This move grants Weiss additional authority to handle the case objectively.
The case involving Hunter Biden has rapidly become a political lightning rod, with Republicans in Congress leveraging his business dealings to raise the possibility of impeaching President Biden and decrying what they perceive as a “sweetheart deal” from the Department of Justice.
As the legal battle continues to unfold, the implications for both Hunter Biden and the political landscape remain uncertain. The developments surrounding the indictment and potential trial will undoubtedly add an additional layer of intrigue to the already contentious lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.
Reporting by Kanishka Singh, Eric Beech, Tom Hals, and Jeff Mason; Editing by Rami Ayyub and David Gregorio
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