Hunter Biden’s bid to have all his tax charges dismissed was rejected on Monday, allowing the criminal case against him to proceed.
The ruling confirms Biden’s status facing three felony charges and six misdemeanor charges related to tax evasion, filing a false return, and failing to pay taxes from 2016 to 2019.
Biden has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
As previously reported, his legal team contended last month that the case was politically driven and tainted by the involvement of two IRS agents who later acted as whistleblowers.
The son of the president filed eight separate motions to dismiss the charges, each citing various legal justifications, including immunity purportedly stemming from a prior plea agreement he had struck. However, all of these motions were rejected.
As we previously reported, Judge Mark Scarsi of the U.S. District Court concluded that the case lacked political motivation, undercutting Biden’s primary argument. He pointed out that Biden’s attorneys failed to present evidence supporting their assertion.
“The motion is remarkable in that it fails to include a single declaration, exhibit, or request for judicial notice,” he wrote. “Instead, Defendant cites portions of various Internet news sources, social media posts, and legal blogs. These citations, however, are not evidence.”
Scarsi added the sources, mostly media reports about the case, “contain multiple levels of hearsay.”
“Defendant fails to present a reasonable inference, let alone clear evidence, of discriminatory effect and discriminatory purpose,” Scarsi wrote.
“Accordingly, the selective prosecution claim fails.”
If found guilty, Hunter Biden could potentially be sentenced to up to 17 years behind bars. Altogether, the president’s son is looking at a total of 42 years in federal prison for the nine tax charges and three gun charges he’s facing.
He was charged with gun offenses in Delaware, to which he pleaded not guilty, while he continues to serve as a key witness in the House impeachment inquiry targeting President Joe Biden.
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