(DailyVantage.com) – Hunter Biden entered a not-guilty plea on Wednesday after the “sweetheart deal” arranged with prosecutors fell apart in court, CBS News reported.
The plea agreement reached last Monday
The deal that allowed Hunter to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges while entering a diversion program on the felony gun charge collapsed when US District Judge Maryellen Noreika refused to sign off on the deal after prosecutors revealed that the investigation into the president’s son was ongoing.
Ultimately, Judge Noreika delayed ruling on the deal until she obtained additional briefings from prosecutors and defense counsel. Another hearing will likely take place in the next four to six weeks.
During the more than 3-hour hearing, the judge asked the lawyers about the terms of the felony gun charge, allowing Hunter to admit the facts of the charge and agree to enter a diversionary program instead of jail time. The judge noted that the court would not ordinarily oversee such an agreement.
Judge Noreika also expressed concern that the plea deal on the tax charges would not allow her to modify or reject the deal, telling the lawyers that they are asking her to “rubber stamp” the agreement.
When the judge asked if the investigation into Hunter was still ongoing, prosecutors acknowledged that it was but said they were not at liberty to divulge the details of the ongoing investigation. This prompted Judge Noreika to ask why prosecutors “are doing this piecemeal.”
The judge said she understood why the parties would want the case resolved but said that she was “not in a position to do so now.”
With the prospect of his client facing future prosecution, Hunter’s attorney, Chris Clark, said, “As far as I’m concerned, the plea agreement is null and void.”
The prosecution and defense met to salvage the deal and emerged with a plan for a new, limited plea deal. However, the judge rejected the plan and requested future briefings.
Hunter Biden then entered a plea of not guilty on the two misdemeanor tax charges.
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