A federal judge in Delaware on Friday denied an effort by Hunter Biden to have gun charges against him dismissed, rejecting the first son’s claim that the case is politically motivated.
U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika (Credit: Wikipedia)
Lawyers for President Biden’s embattled 54-year-old son had asked US District Judge Maryellen Noreika last December to throw out his felony firearm possession charge and the two related false statement charges brought by special counsel David Weiss.
The first son’s attorneys argued the case against their client is a “selective and vindictive prosecution” and “a breach of separation of powers” because special counsel “buckled under political pressure” from former President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans.
Noreika did not find the argument convincing, blasting Hunter Biden’s claim as “nonsensical.”
“To the extent that Defendant’s claim that he is being selectively prosecuted rests solely on him being the son of the sitting President, that claim is belied by the facts,” Noreika wrote in her 26-page ruling.
The judge noted that it was ultimately the Biden Justice Department that brought charges against Hunter and that Attorney General Merrick Garland – who elevated Weiss to special counsel – was appointed by and reports to Joe Biden.
“Defendant’s claim is effectively that his own father targeted him for being his son, a claim that is nonsensical under the facts here,” Noreika wrote.
“Regardless of whether Congressional Republicans attempted to influence the Executive Branch, there is no evidence that they were successful in doing so and, in any event, the Executive Branch prosecuting Defendant was at all relevant times (and still is) headed by Defendant’s father,” she continued. (Read more: New York Post, 4/12/2024) (Archive)