President Joe Biden’s son Hunter is requesting that a federal court dismiss several felony firearms charges against him, in part arguing that he has “immunity” in the case. The legal effort came after a judge dismissed Hunter Biden’s earlier effort to plead not guilty remotely, and not in a physical courtroom.
The legal team for the president’s son claimed that the original July plea deal organized by U.S. Attorney David Weiss “remains in force’ and that the charges should be dropped “pursuant to the immunity provisions of that Agreement.”
🔥🚨BREAKING: Hunter Biden is asking for his federal gun charges to be dismissed because he claims he has immunity.
First son Hunter Biden is asking for federal gun charges he pleaded not guilty to earlier this week to be dismissed, claiming he has immunity against the… pic.twitter.com/fnJGZEaRyD
— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) October 6, 2023
According to the indictment, Hunter Biden allegedly made false statements during the purchase of a firearm in 2018 and then ditched the weapon.
The charges carry significant potential penalties, including up to 25 years in prison.
Despite the legal filing, Weiss’ office denied that any of the provisions of the failed plea deal were “in effect.” Weiss’ office said that Hunter Biden’s legal team had “cobbed together snippets” to try and influence the case. The special counsel’s office stated that the final deal had not been approved by the judge in the case.
Weiss is reportedly considering a number of other potential charges against the president’s son, including regarding his business dealings and tax obligations. IRS whistleblowers described potential Department of Justice interference in the investigation of the younger Biden, including how he allegedly dodged paying taxes.
The original plea deal included a provision in which Hunter Biden admitted that he did not pay taxes on $1.5 million in income between 2017 and 2018.
The original investigation believed that the president’s son did not pay $2.2 million in taxes on $8.3 million in earnings between 2014 and 2019, including from foreign sources such as Ukraine, Russia and China.
Hunter Biden’s attorneys claim that the “only change” that Weiss, who was named special counsel after the plea deal collapsed could make was to issue charges related to Hunter Biden’s taxes.
“If the Special Counsel no longer wishes to pursue that charge, it has the right to do that,” attorneys Abbe Lowell and Richard Jones wrote.
