- The two counts of tax evasion are for 2017 and 2018, when Hunter Biden earned more than $1.5 million each year.
- A gun charge, which is being handled through a pretrial diversion program likely resulting in no jail time, is being handled in a separate case.
- Republicans criticized the investigation as a ‘slap on the wrist’ and the result of political favoritism despite the prosecutor being appointed by former President Donald Trump.
A federal judge refused Wednesday to accept a plea agreement with Hunter Biden after an unexpected disagreement about the terms between prosecutors and defense lawyers temporarily upended the resolution to the five-year federal investigation.
U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika urged both sides to come to an agreement and called for a lengthy mid-day recess. But she wanted more time to review the proposal before accepting it.
“You all are telling me ‘just rubber stamp the agreement, Your Honor,’” Noreika told the lawyers.
Biden pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor charges he failed to pay his taxes in 2017 and 2018, when he received more than $1.5 million each year. Biden told the court a third party paid the back taxes along with interest and fees pursuant to a personal loan he has not began to repay.
The plea deal had also covered a gun charge and would have allowed him to enter a pretrial diversion program that could eventually wipe the charge off the record.
But prosecutors and defense lawyers disagreed about the terms of the plea agreement, with Biden insisting any guilty plea encompass immunity from any other criminal charges.
Noreika asked the parties to submit legal briefs on the legitimacy of the deals offered to Hunter Biden within 30 days.
U.S. Attorney Leo Wise said that would require ordering transcripts of Wednesday’s hearing and said 14 days would be sufficient.
However, Noreika set no specific date for the next hearing before court adjourned.
The hearing was held in the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building, named after the…
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