Hunter Biden Pleads Not Guilty to Tax Crimes After Deal Collapses
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Hunter Biden unexpectedly pleaded not guilty Wednesday to federal tax crimes after a plea deal with prosecutors fell apart.
Key Details: U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika asked prosecutors whether future charges could be brought, sparking disagreement among the prosecution and defense. Prosecutors said Hunter remains under federal investigation, but didn't say why. Hunter was expected to plea guilty to the tax charges while entering a diversion agreement for a felony gun charge, and prosecutors were expected to recommend two years probation. Without the deal, Hunter could face up to 12 months in prison and a $25,000 fine for each tax violation, plus up to 10 years in jail for the gun felony.
For Context: In June, Hunter's lawyers reached a deal with Justice Department prosecutors for him to plead guilty to charges of failing to pay income taxes in 2017 and 2018. That deal, labeled by some a "sweetheart deal," is now on hold. The decision comes after IRS whistleblowers claimed the Justice Department obstructed its Hunter Biden investigation.
How the Media Covered it: The unexpected developments led to key differences in coverage. NBC News (Lean Left bias) said "prosecutors and Hunter Biden’s lawyer both said there were not" more serious charges that could be brought. Conversely, Wall Street Journal (Center) reported that prosecutors said Hunter "could face additional foreign lobbying charges," and Fox News (Right) reported that prosecutors said "pleading guilty to the two misdemeanor tax offenses would not immunize him from future charges." Updated 1:42 pm ET with new developments.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Right
Hunter Biden plea: President's son pleads 'not guilty' after judge blows up plea agreement
President Joe Biden's son Hunter pleaded "not guilty" in court Wednesday after a federal judge in Delaware said she was not ready to accept a so-called "sweetheart" plea deal after the prosecution revealed the investigation was ongoing.
Hunter Biden, 53, through his attorneys, had argued the prearranged plea deal should be accepted in its entirety. It included the younger Biden pleading guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and entering a diversion agreement for a felony gun charge.
U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika acknowledged during the hearing that the concerns she raised over the terms of the...
From the Center
Hunter Biden plea deal on tax charges appears in jeopardy
Hunter Biden’s plea agreement with the Justice Department appeared to unexpectedly crumble during an initial hearing on the case on Wednesday.
Biden, 53, made his first federal court appearance in Wilmington, Del., where he was set to plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of willful failure to pay income taxes.
But U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, who is overseeing the case, expressed concern about the terms of the agreement, according to CNN and the Associated Press.
NBC reported lawyers for both sides were continuing to huddle nearly two hours after the...
From the Left
Biden’s son Hunter pleads not guilty to 2 tax crimes after agreement with prosecutors falls through
President Joe Biden’s son Hunter pleaded not guilty Wednesday to two tax crimes after a plea deal with federal prosecutors unraveled during a court hearing following the judge’s concerns over the agreement.
Hunter Biden was charged last month with two misdemeanor tax crimes of failure to pay more than $100,000 in taxes from over $1.5 million in income in both 2017 and 2018, and he had made an agreement with prosecutors, who were planning to recommend two years of probation. That deal is now on hold.
But during the hearing Wednesday,...
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