Hunter Biden’s plea on Wednesday may speed up a fresh criminal probe.
President Joe Biden’s Son Agrees to Plea Deal, But Legal Woes Remain
President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, has agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax offenses and enter a pretrial diversion program to avoid prison time on a felony gun charge. However, questions still linger about whether this will mark the end of his legal troubles.
Hunter Biden, 55, will appear in Wilmington, Delaware, federal court on Wednesday morning, where U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika will decide whether to accept the plea deal. The announcement of the plea agreement comes after five years of investigation and amidst new allegations of preferential treatment from prosecutors.
House Republicans Continue Investigation
Despite the plea agreement, Hunter Biden’s legal troubles may not be over. House Republicans plan to continue their congressional investigation into the Biden family’s financial records. The House Oversight Committee, leading the investigation, is set to hear from Hunter’s ex-business partner, Devon Archer, on Monday.
While the committee cannot make criminal referrals to the Department of Justice for the same crimes, the DOJ could still prosecute Hunter Biden based on other crimes referred by Congress.
On the other hand, Hunter Biden’s attorneys have publicly stated that they expect the plea deal to resolve all of his outstanding legal issues.
Judge’s Decision and Potential Consequences
Judge Noreika, appointed by former President Donald Trump, has the option to delay the certification of the agreement if she wishes to review more information regarding the alleged preferential treatment. However, it is common for judges to accept plea agreements in the criminal justice system.
For the charge of purchasing a handgun while addicted to drugs, Hunter Biden will agree to a pretrial diversion, with the charge being dropped if he fulfills certain terms. The terms will be set out during the sentencing, which can be imposed at the hearing since the arrangements for the plea deal were made in advance.
If Hunter Biden fails to complete the terms of the diversion, the judge can terminate it and proceed with criminal proceedings. However, the judge may also give him a warning for any minor slip-ups.
Conservative Group Files Lawsuit
The conservative Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project has filed a lawsuit against the DOJ, alleging non-compliance with a Freedom of Information Act request. The lawsuit aims to obtain communications mentioning the possibility of appointing a special counsel.
IRS whistleblowers, supervisory agent Gary Shapley and special agent Joe Ziegler, testified before the Oversight Committee, claiming that the DOJ interfered with their investigation into Hunter Biden. They alleged that the DOJ blocked requests for special counsel status, prevented interviews with Hunter Biden, restricted access to his laptop, and allowed the statute of limitations to expire on additional tax charges.
The Heritage Foundation plans to submit an amicus brief in the Delaware court, urging Judge Noreika to reconsider accepting the plea deal.
Potential Criminal Referrals and Ongoing Investigation
House GOP lawmakers are focused on two IRS whistleblower claims that raise concerns about whether the DOJ hindered the collection of evidence on potential financial crimes. They suggest that Hunter Biden could face criminal referrals for violating the Mann Act, money laundering, racketeering, wire fraud, and violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
While Hunter Biden’s legal troubles were partially resolved with a recent child support settlement, the plea deal on Wednesday could provide House Republicans with more access to information. With the DOJ no longer citing an ongoing investigation as a reason to deny requests for documents and witness testimony, Congress may be able to continue its investigation into additional potential crimes.
It is important to note that resolving these matters through a plea deal does not absolve Hunter Biden of any potential criminal liability.
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