Hunter Biden’s lawyer steps down due to possible involvement as a witness.
The Lead Defense Attorney for Hunter Biden Requests to Step Down from the Case
In a recent development, Christopher Clark, the lead criminal defense attorney for Hunter Biden, has filed a motion to withdraw from the case. This decision comes as Clark may be called as a witness in the ongoing legal proceedings against President Joe Biden’s son.
The motion was filed on August 15 in a Delaware court, where Hunter Biden is facing charges of tax fraud and felony gun possession. The reason behind Clark’s request to step down is related to a potential legal challenge to Biden’s plea deal and diversion agreement, which fell apart last month due to objections from the judge.
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According to Mr. Biden’s lawyers, Clark’s withdrawal is necessary as he is a percipient witness to the issues surrounding the negotiation and drafting of the plea agreement and diversion agreement.
Hunter Biden is currently facing charges of failing to pay over $100,000 in taxes from an income of more than $1.5 million in 2017 and 2018. Additionally, he is accused of possessing a firearm in 2018 while being a drug user.
The Collapse of the Plea Deal
Back in June, a plea agreement was announced by U.S. Attorney David Weiss, in which Hunter Biden would plead guilty to the tax fraud charges and enter a separate diversion agreement to clear him of the felony gun charge. However, this deal, criticized by Republicans as a favorable arrangement due to Biden’s connection to the president, faced objections from U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika.
Judge Noreika expressed concerns about the structure of the plan, her role in it, and the way it linked tax crimes to resolving felony gun charges. She found the diversion agreement to be too broad in scope and raised questions about its atypical nature. During the hearing, it was revealed that the deal would grant extensive immunity to the president’s son.
One of the objectionable aspects of the deal was its broad inclusion of an agreement not to prosecute Hunter Biden for crimes in unrelated cases. This raised eyebrows, with the judge questioning prosecutors about the unprecedented nature of such an agreement.
As a result of Judge Noreika’s objections, the plea deal fell apart, leading Hunter Biden to plead not guilty. Despite attempts to negotiate an updated agreement, prosecutors believe that the case will now proceed to trial.
Appointment of a Special Counsel
Attorney General Merrick Garland later announced that David Weiss had been appointed as a special counsel in the case. Weiss had been leading the Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into Hunter Biden since February 2021, which ultimately resulted in the filing of tax and gun charges.
In April, Garland assured Congress that there would be no political interference in the probe and that Weiss was overseeing the investigation. However, two IRS whistleblowers accused the DOJ of obstructing the tax probe, including limiting Weiss’s authority to prosecute Biden.
Responding to these allegations, Mr. Garland appointed Weiss as special counsel, citing the “extraordinary circumstances relating to this matter.” This appointment reaffirms Garland’s commitment to ensuring a thorough investigation.
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