Prosecutors argued against dismissing criminal tax evasion charges against Hunter Biden during a lengthy hearing, claiming the charges were politically motivated. Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, contended that the government’s case against his client was unusual and involved misdemeanor charges being turned into felonies. The tax charges against President Biden’s son were the result of a years-long investigation by Special Counsel David Weiss, who alleged that Hunter Biden had evaded paying over $1.4 million in federal income taxes.
Special Counsel Attorney Leo Wise pushed back against Lowell’s arguments, accusing him of making “fact-free pleadings” and attacking the prosecutors working on the case. The judge presiding over the hearing, Mark Scarsi, indicated that he would make a ruling on the motions to dismiss the tax charges by April 17. The parties agreed on a pre-trial hearing scheduled for May 29 at 1 p.m., with Hunter Biden’s trial set to begin on June 20. Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against him by Weiss.
Weiss alleged that Hunter Biden engaged in a “four-year scheme” to avoid paying federal income taxes from 2017 to 2020, while also filing false tax reports. The charges against the president’s son consist of three felonies and six misdemeanors related to his failure to pay taxes. Lowell is also seeking to dismiss gun charges brought against Biden in Delaware. The original plea deal that included a diversion agreement collapsed in July, leading Hunter Biden to plead not guilty to the charges against him.
The prosecution accused Lowell of attacking the law and the prosecutors when he lacked facts to support his arguments in favor of dismissing the charges. Wise criticized Lowell for suggesting that the case was politically motivated, stating that the charges were based on facts. Hunter Biden’s legal team and the prosecution clashed during the hearing, with the judge having to intervene multiple times to maintain order in the courtroom. Despite the heated arguments, all sides agreed on the next steps in the legal process, including the upcoming pre-trial hearing and trial dates.
Overall, the hearing on motions to dismiss the tax evasion charges against Hunter Biden was marked by contentious exchanges between his legal team and the prosecution. Lowell argued that the charges were unfounded and politically motivated, while Wise defended the case as being based on evidence. Judge Scarsi indicated that he would make a decision on the motions by April 17 and set dates for further proceedings. Hunter Biden’s trial is scheduled to begin in June, and the legal wrangling surrounding the case is likely to continue as both sides present their arguments in court.
