On Monday, a federal judge in California ruled against Hunter Biden in his ongoing criminal tax case, rejecting eight motions filed by the president’s son in an effort to dismiss the charges against him. Judge Mark Scarsi denied Biden’s various arguments, including claims that lead prosecutor, special counsel David Weiss, was improperly appointed and that the charges were politically motivated by pressure from Republicans.
The ruling means that Biden will likely go on trial starting on June 20, the tentative date set by the judge. He also faces a separate criminal case in Delaware over an alleged gun purchase, with a trial date set for June 3, if the judge there takes the same view as Scarsi.
In December 2023, prosecutors accused Biden of willfully failing to pay taxes on time and filing fraudulent tax forms. Biden’s defense team has stated that he did pay the taxes, though with penalties and interest, and that he was struggling with drug addiction at the time of the alleged offenses.
Last summer, prosecutors and Biden had nearly come to a resolution in the case, negotiating a deal in which the president’s son would plead guilty to tax misdemeanors and work to have a gun charge dismissed. The agreement included a commitment from the Justice Department that Biden would not face further charges if he fulfilled the terms. However, the deal fell apart after the initial hearing, when the judge in the Delaware case raised concerns about its scope and enforceability.
In his ruling, Scarsi firmly rejected Biden’s arguments, stating that the agreement was not binding as it did not have the signature of the probation officer involved. He also criticized claims made by Biden’s team of “selective and vindictive prosecution,” stating that the evidence presented was solely based on news articles and did not prove that the decision to charge Biden was influenced by political pressure.
While acknowledging that political pressure was cited by House Republicans as a factor in the prosecution, Scarsi pointed out that this does not prove that it had any actual influence on the independent prosecutor.
One of Biden’s main arguments for dismissing the indictment was the testimony of two IRS agents who worked on his case and were subsequently removed from it. The agents declared that Biden’s indictment was a “complete vindication,” but the judge dismissed this as evidence, stating that it does not prove that the agents’ actions had any bearing on the prosecutor’s decision.
In response to the ruling, Biden’s defense team released a statement expressing their disagreement and intent to pursue further challenges to the handling of the case by the Special Counsel. However, it is not clear if they plan to appeal the judge’s decision.
Biden’s case has been under intense scrutiny due to his father’s position as President of the United States and allegations of political bias. However, Judge Scarsi’s ruling has affirmed the independence of the prosecution process and the lack of evidence to support claims of political influence.
The trial will likely proceed in June, marking another major legal battle for the younger Biden, who has faced numerous challenges and controversies in recent years. With the two trials set to take place in different states, it remains to be seen how the outcome of one may impact the other.
This ruling also sets a precedent for how cases involving high-profile individuals should be handled, emphasizing the importance of evidence and investigative procedures over mere allegations or political pressure. All parties involved will need to carefully prepare and present their arguments in court, as the nation watches to see how the legal system will ultimately determine Hunter Biden’s fate.
