WILMINGTON, DELAWARE: In a recent turn of events, Hunter Biden faces the possibility of charges related to illegal gun possession while using drugs, with prosecutors seeking an indictment before September 29, as revealed in a significant court filing.
Special counsel David Weiss informed a federal judge in Delaware about the prosecution's intention to present the case to a grand jury.
This development comes after a tentative plea deal involving taxes and a firearms charge collapsed earlier this summer.
Prosecutors pursue indictment of Hunter Biden
Initially, Hunter Biden faced charges of misdemeanor tax offenses and a felony firearm offense, leading to a tentative deal that aimed to avoid prison time.
However, during a court hearing, a federal judge raised concerns about provisions of the deal that could have spared him from incarceration.
Consequently, Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to all three charges.
Weiss, who recently assumed the role of special counsel, cited the Speedy Trial Act as the driving force behind the accelerated timeline.
Responding to the judge's inquiries, Weiss stated, "The Speedy Trial Act requires that the government obtain the return of an indictment by a grand jury by Friday, September 29, 2023, at the earliest."
The potential charges, which could carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, are once again under consideration, as indicated in the recent filing signed by Special Counsel Weiss, CBS News reported.
Apart from these legal troubles, Hunter Biden is also under scrutiny for his foreign business dealings, subject to investigations initiated by House Republicans in Congress.
Initially, a plea deal appeared to offer Hunter Biden a way to avoid incarceration by pleading guilty to misdemeanor tax crimes totaling over $100,000 in unpaid taxes for income earned in 2017 and 2018.
The deal included conditions to evade prosecution for the firearm charge over a 24-month period.
The firearm charge stemmed from Hunter's false response on a 2018 gun purchase application, where he denied being an "unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance."
His memoir, 'Beautiful Things', published in 2021, detailed his extensive drug use during that period.
Full list of charges against Hunter Biden
1. Illegal Possession of a Firearm: Hunter Biden faces charges related to the illegal possession of a firearm.
He had lied on a 2018 gun purchase application by answering "no" to whether he was an "unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance."
2. Misdemeanor Tax Offenses: Hunter Biden has been charged with misdemeanor tax offenses. These charges are related to his failure to pay more than $100,000 in taxes for income earned in 2017 and 2018.
3. Felony Firearm Offense: In addition to the misdemeanor tax offenses, he was also charged with a felony firearm offense, which is linked to the unlawful possession of the firearm.
Please note that these charges are based on the information available up to the knowledge cutoff date in September 2021, and the legal proceedings may have evolved since then.
Did Hunter Biden get a 'sweetheart deal'?
Critics, particularly Republicans, have raised concerns about what they perceive as a "sweetheart deal" for the president's son.
However, the deal faced setbacks during a court hearing presided over by US District Judge Maryellen Noreika, who probed the specifics of the plea agreement and whether it granted blanket immunity from future federal charges.
The dispute between the government and Hunter's legal team led to additional briefings being requested by the judge.
Despite the broader plea deal unraveling, Hunter's defense maintains that the firearm deal remains valid and binding since it was signed.
Further scrutiny emerged when two IRS whistleblowers accused the Justice Department of providing special treatment to Hunter Biden.
In August, Attorney General Merrick Garland elevated Weiss to the role of special counsel, a move that raised questions among some Republicans in Congress.
Republicans raise concerns
Some lawmakers raised concerns about whether this appointment was designed to shield Weiss from testifying before Congress.
"Did they appoint him special counsel so he doesn't have to testify before the Congress of the United States?" GOP Sen.
Chuck Grassley told the Daily Mail while reacting to the news. "If that's your game - then I'd say there's ulterior motives."
Grassley noted that "you can see this plea agreement that the judge didn't take raises a lot of questions about him."
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy also suggested that Weiss's elevation might be an attempt to hinder ongoing House Republican investigations into the Biden family's affairs.
"This action by Biden's DOJ cannot be used to obstruct congressional investigations or whitewash the Biden family corruption," the speaker stated.
