For several weeks now, it was expected that First Son Hunter Biden would plead guilty to his tax crimes to avoid a gun charge. However, this has recently changed after the judge assigned to the case said she needed more time to review the agreement between Hunter and the prosecution.
Overview
What was expected to be a routine plea hearing turned into a three-hour ordeal of hushed negotiations between attorneys and a mountain of questions being asked by Judge Maryellen Noreika, who is assigned to the case, “I cannot accept the plea agreement today”, the judge said. After asking both sides to present reasons why she should accept the plea, Judge Noreika went on to say she didn’t want to “rubber stamp” a plea deal.
Not Guilty Plea Entered
Judge Noreika reprimanded both the prosecution and the defense for presenting her with a plea agreement that clearly suffered from procedural flaws. Shortly after this, Hunter Biden entered a plea of not guilty once it was realized that the judge was not going to accept the original plea deal.
Original Deal
The original plea deal required Hunter Biden to plead guilty to his two misdemeanor tax crimes from the years 2017 and 2018. Additionally, he was expected to enter into an agreement with federal prosecutors in order to avoid serving jail time for possessing a firearm while being addicted to a controlled substance. This deal has been totally derailed, however, as a resolution has yet to be found for the first son.
Wrap Up
With the 2024 election around the corner, this is definitely something that the Biden Campaign doesn’t want hanging over President Biden’s head as he runs for reelection. When white house press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about the First Son’s situation, she stated that Hunter is still a “private citizen” and still deserves his privacy.