Prosecutors in the criminal case against President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, said in court documents filed Friday that a plea deal in the case appears unlikely and the case appears to be headed for trial.
The New York Times reported that the apparent collapse of the plea deal could mean a few different things, including the possibility that prosecutors will bring charges for alleged tax and gun crimes, additional charges related to his business dealings could be filed, or both.
“[D]uring the July 26, 2023, hearing that the Court set on this matter, the Defendant pled not guilty,” prosecutors for U.S. attorney, now special counsel, David Weiss said in the filing. “Since that time, the parties have engaged in further plea negotiations but are at an impasse. The Government now believes that the case will not resolve short of a trial.”
NEWS: Prosecutors now say Hunter BIDEN plea deal is unlikely and the case appears headed for trial. https://t.co/gfMMFmk84N pic.twitter.com/8Ix34jIi6v
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) August 11, 2023
“Weiss hinted that Hunter Biden may face additional criminal charges in his filing asking for the matter to be dismissed from the District of Delaware,” the Times’ report added. “He wrote that while Biden had previously waived his right to be charged in another state for the purposes of the now-collapsed plea deal, he could not do so now because prosecutors may decide to bring different charges in different districts.”
The judge in the case ordered Hunter Biden’s lawyers to respond to the Justice Department’s “motion to vacate his plea schedule by Monday at noon,” Politico court reporter Kyle Cheney wrote.
UPDATE: Judge orders Hunter Biden to respond to DOJ's motion to vacate his plea schedule by MONDAY at noon.
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) August 11, 2023
The news comes as U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced on Friday that Weiss, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, was granted “special counsel” status this week.
“This appointment confirms my commitment to provide Mr. Weiss all the resources he requests,” Garland said. “It also reaffirms that Mr. Weiss has the authority he needs to conduct a thorough investigation and to continue to take the steps he deems appropriate independently based only on the facts and the law.”
