Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to alleged tax crimes in a stunning reversal in federal court on Wednesday after a plea deal his lawyers reached with prosecutors stalled in court.
The proposed deal involved Hunter pleading guilty to two misdemeanor tax counts of willful failure to pay federal income tax and entering a diversion program in lieu of pleading guilty to a felony gun charge.
U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, a Trump nominee, said that she could not accept the plea deal in its current form. “I cannot accept the plea agreement today,” she said.
“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.
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Hunter Biden reportedly hired new attorneys recently who “specialize in FARA and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act cases,” according to investigative reporter Chuck Ross.
Hunter Biden faces just two tax misdemeanors and a felony gun charge, but a couple of his new attorneys specialize in FARA and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act cases. pic.twitter.com/bDY3pbY5HJ
— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) July 24, 2023
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