Hunter Biden flanked by Kevin Morris, left, and Abbe Lowell, right, attend a House Oversight Committee meeting in Washington, DC. (Credit: Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
The judge overseeing the federal tax case against Hunter Biden denied a series of motions by the president’s son to dismiss the tax charges against him.
In an 82-page order, U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi rejected all eight motions filed by Biden’s legal team, which relied on various legal arguments in asking him to throw out the entire indictment or at least specific counts.
Biden was hit last year with three felony and six misdemeanor tax-related charges. He has pleaded not guilty.
U.S. District Court Judge Mark Scarsi (Credit: public domain)
One of the defense motions had zeroed in on a failed plea deal, arguing that a so-called diversion agreement was still in effect, meaning certain charges would be set aside if the terms were honored.
Another motion argued that prosecutors selectively targeted Biden, while a separate one alleged that special counsel David Weiss, who is leading the prosecution, was not correctly appointed to his position.
In rejecting the selective prosecution argument, Scarsi said Biden “fails to present a reasonable inference, let alone clear evidence, of discriminatory effect and discriminatory purpose.”
Scarsi also denied the argument that statements from congressional Republicans affected how prosecutors have handled the case.
“But politicians take credit for many things over which they have no power and have made no impact,” Scarsi said. “As counsel conceded at the hearing, just because someone says they influenced a prosecutorial decision does not mean that they did.”
Biden’s attorney Abbe Lowell was critical of the order in a statement Monday night.
“We strongly disagree with the Court’s decision and will continue to vigorously pursue Mr. Biden’s challenges to the abnormal way the Special Counsel handled this investigation and charged this case,” Lowell said.
The special counsel’s office declined to comment on the order. (Read more: Yahoo News, 4/01/2024) (Archive)