Staff Reports
Hunter Biden’s legal team faced quite the turbulence in federal court, and it wasn’t just the usual courtroom drama. On Wednesday, the first son’s attorneys, led by the ever-eloquent Mark Geragos, attempted to convince Judge Mark Scarsi that prosecutors were out to “slime” their client. This theatrical performance was a curious step for a defense team in the midst of a serious tax trial. It seems that for Hunter Biden, any bad publicity is not just the bad news; it’s a character assassination incident.
As the clock ticks down to the trial set for September 9, Biden is gearing up to face a whopping nine tax charges, which include the ever-unpopular failure to pay taxes and the classic filing of false returns. The court hearing was supposedly a straightforward affair to address pretrial motions — you know, the boring stuff about what evidence can make it into the trial. However, it’s revealed that Judge Scarsi was firmly leaning into the prosecution’s corner, making the courtroom feel more like a boxing ring.
Judge unsympathetic to Hunter Biden ahead of tax trial: Report https://t.co/ExQ1Vp3ZgF
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) August 22, 2024
In a rather bold ruling, it seems Scarsi deemed Biden’s attempts to discuss his later repayment of taxes irrelevant. What’s even more astounding is that he blocked Biden from calling an expert witness who might testify about his past struggles with addiction—presumably to paint a picture of the young man’s frazzled state of mind between 2015 and 2019. But let’s be real: the idea that using crack cocaine somehow nullifies the obligation to pay taxes on $11 million seems a bit far-fetched. Even government attorneys are puzzled, emphasizing that no amount of drugs can exonerate one from their tax responsibilities.
In classic political theater style, Biden’s legal crew further sought to have any mention of his lavish lifestyle wiped from the record. This includes spending thousands on strip clubs and other indulgent activities during the tax years in question. It’s no secret that while Hunter was living large, he allegedly failed to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes. Obviously, the prosecution believes that those details showcase his frivolousness and may be pivotal to the case—a potentially damaging juxtaposition against the backdrop of his tax troubles.
As if that wasn’t enough, the agility of Biden’s defenders took a nose dive when they requested to exclude any references to “improper political influence” in light of Biden’s foreign business dealings. While it’s easy to overlook that type of justification in the hustle and bustle of wealth acquisition, the murky waters of foreign business operations under his father’s vice-presidential reign could raise more eyebrows than his signature laptop. With the prosecution suggesting that these dealings highlight Biden’s “state of mind” at the time in question, it’s clear he might be in over his head.
Legal experts have weighed in, and many are advising Hunter to cut his losses and plead guilty before the trial unfolds into an exhaustive spectacle. It would certainly serve him better to negotiate a plea deal rather than slog through a mountainous pile of evidence likely unfavorable to him. However, should Biden choose this route, he might face felony charges and the not-so-lovely prospect of jail time—a somewhat ironic turn of events for a man who has repeatedly brushed off his responsibilities.
