A federal judge on Monday rejected the latest attempt by President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden to dismiss several tax-related charges he faces in Los Angeles, all but ensuring that the case will go to trial as scheduled early next month.
In July, attorneys for Hunter Biden filed a pair of motions seeking to dismiss his cases in both California and Delaware, citing a decision by a federal judge in Florida to dismiss the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump.
But on Monday, U.S. Judge Mark Scarsi, the Los Angeles-based federal judge overseeing the tax case, denied that bid, concluding in a seven-page ruling that his attorneys’ arguments failed on both procedural and factual grounds.
Scarsi, in denying the motion, cited Hunter Biden’s previous ill-fated efforts to dismiss the case.
“As he concedes in his notice of the motion, Mr. Biden plainly seeks reconsideration of issues already decided upon his February motion,” Scarsi wrote, concluding that “there is no valid basis for reconsideration of the court’s [prior] order denying Mr. Biden’s motion to dismiss the indictment.”
The judge, however, determined that Hunter Biden will not face sanctions after Scarsi earlier threatened to sanction him after Hunter Biden’s attorneys suggested in court filings that special counsel David Weiss only brought the charges after he was elevated to special counsel. Biden’s legal team acknowledged in a subsequent filing that their claim had been “inartfully” articulated.
Hunter Biden departs from federal court June 11, 2024, in Wilmington, Del.
Matt Slocum/AP
On Monday, Scarsi wrote that he would not sanction Hunter Biden, in part because of a recent shakeup of his legal team, but issued a warning, saying, “Counsel’s conduct warrants an admonition: candor is paramount.”
Hunter Biden faces nine felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from his failure to pay $1.4 million in taxes for three years during a time when he was in the throes of addiction. The back taxes and penalties were ultimately paid in full by a third party, identified by ABC News as Hunter Biden’s attorney and confidant, Kevin Morris.
The trial is scheduled to begin on Sept. 5. Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
In a separate case in Delaware, Hunter Biden was found guilty on three firearm-related charges earlier this summer.
In a recent development in the ongoing legal saga of Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, a judge has denied his motion to dismiss tax-related charges. The decision comes after months of legal wrangling and speculation surrounding the case, which has garnered significant media attention.
The charges against Hunter Biden stem from allegations that he failed to properly report income from his foreign business dealings, including his work with Ukrainian energy company Burisma Holdings. The indictment accuses him of failing to report over $400,000 in income on his tax returns between 2013 and 2015.
Hunter Biden has maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, claiming that the charges are politically motivated and part of a targeted attack against him and his family. His legal team argued that the case should be dismissed on the grounds of prosecutorial misconduct and violations of his constitutional rights.
However, the judge overseeing the case disagreed, ruling that there was sufficient evidence to proceed with the charges and denying Hunter Biden’s motion to dismiss. The decision is a significant blow to his defense strategy and sets the stage for a potentially lengthy and contentious trial.
The outcome of the case could have far-reaching implications for both Hunter Biden and his father, President Joe Biden. Critics of the administration have seized on the charges as evidence of corruption and wrongdoing within the Biden family, while supporters have dismissed them as baseless attacks designed to undermine the president’s credibility.
As the legal proceedings continue to unfold, all eyes will be on the courtroom as Hunter Biden fights to clear his name and prove his innocence. The case serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and challenges that come with being a public figure, particularly when it comes to navigating the murky waters of politics and personal reputation.
