NEW DELHI: A federal judge in Delaware has rejected Hunter Biden‘s request to dismiss gun charges against him, paving the way for a potential trial in June. US district judge Maryellen Noreika ruled against Biden’s arguments that the case was politically motivated, that he had immunity from prosecution based on a previous plea deal, and that the appointment of US Attorney David Weiss as special counsel was improper.
Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, has been charged with lying about his drug use on a form to purchase a gun in October 2018, which he allegedly kept for 11 days.His lawyers argued that he did not break the law and that a nonviolent, first-time offender would not have been charged in similar circumstances. They also claimed that prosecutors succumbed to political pressure from Republicans when they decided to indict Biden after a plea deal fell through.
However, Judge Noreika found that Biden’s team provided “nothing concrete” to support the claim that anyone influenced the special counsel’s decision to indict. She also rejected the defense’s argument that a diversion agreement from the previous plea deal was still valid, noting that the probation office had not signed off on the agreement, which was necessary for it to take effect.
In addition to the gun charges in Delaware, Biden faces separate tax charges in Los Angeles, where he is accused of failing to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes over three years while living an “extravagant lifestyle” during his days of drug use. A judge in that case recently denied eight motions to dismiss the charges, and Biden’s lawyers have indicated they will appeal those rulings. The trial in the Los Angeles case is also scheduled to begin in June.
(With inputs from agencies)