A federal judge ordered Hunter Biden to get a job on Wednesday as part of his release conditions after he pleaded not guilty in court to tax charges.
The order from U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, a Trump appointee, said that Hunter must “continue or actively seek employment.”
The order also said that Hunter may not consume any alcohol and must “not use or unlawfully possess a narcotic drug or other controlled substances” unless prescribed by a licensed medical practitioner.
Hunter must “submit to testing for a prohibited substance if required by the pretrial services office or supervising officer,” the order added. “Testing may be used with random frequency and may include urine testing, the wearing of a sweat patch, a remote alcohol testing system, and/or any form of prohibited substance screening or testing. The defendant must not obstruct, attempt to obstruct, or tamper with the efficiency and accuracy of prohibited substance screening or testing.”
As part of his release conditions,
Judge Noreika ordered Hunter Biden to get a job, drink NO alcohol, not use or possess any drugs, and — if asked by pretrial services or officers —submit to testing and participate in substance abuse therapy pic.twitter.com/DA0m1U2GnK— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) July 26, 2023
Hunter was expected to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax counts of willful failure to pay federal income tax and enter into a diversion program in lieu of pleading guilty to a felony gun charge.
However, that plan was tossed out the window, at least for now, after Noreika learned from prosecutors that Hunter was still under criminal investigation for other matters. “I cannot accept the plea agreement today,” she said.
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“These agreements are not straightforward and they contain atypical provisions,” she said. “I’m not in a position where I can decide to accept or reject a plea agreement and I need to defer it.”
The deal hit a snag when Noreika asked federal prosecutor Leo Wise whether there was an ongoing criminal investigation into Hunter.
“There is,” Wise responded, noting that he could not give further details.
When Noreika asked if the ongoing criminal investigation could result in the DOJ potentially bringing charges related to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), Wise responded, “Yes.”
Defense attorney Chris Clark said that he believed that the plea deal had closed the door on the possibility that any additional charges would be brought. “As far as I’m concerned, the plea agreement is null and void,” he said.