Hunter Biden’s plea deal fell through on Wednesday, as the president’s son ended up pleading not guilty to federal tax charges when the judge began asking questions about the terms of the plea agreement.
The unexpected unraveling of the plea deal came at a hearing in federal court in Delaware where Biden was expected to plead guilty to two charges of failing to pay taxes under a deal struck last month.
Instead, he ended up entering a not-guilty plea, as U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika would not accept the deal until the prosecutors and defense addressed the questions she raised, CNN reported.
Noreika was critical of the plea deal, as the judge said she was being asked to act as a “rubber stamp” despite the lack of information provided. Now the parties will have to convene and figure out the terms before Noreika gives her approval.
“Without me saying I’ll agree to the plea agreement, how do you plead?” Noreika asked.
“Not guilty, your honor,” Biden responded.
Noreika pressed both sides about the terms of the agreement struck between U.S. Attorney David Weiss of Delaware and Biden’s legal team, NBC News reported.
The judge said that she had concerns about how two separate deals, one that involved the tax charges levied against Biden and the another that involved a gun possession charge, intersected and her purview over them.
Part of the agreement would see the gun charge diverted until Biden fulfilled certain terms. While his lawyer, Chris Clark, argued that it was put in place to prevent the case from becoming “more politicized,” Noreika said she worries there was no case law to support the agreement, even though she understands his argument, NBC News reported.
She went on to say that she worried the tax charges agreement did not give her authority to reject or modify the deal, should she need to, and that the gun charge agreement could see Biden protected from further prosecution over his financial and tax issues.
So, wanting more information, Noreika instructed both sides to provide answers to her worries and questions so that she could study it further, according to the Washington Post.
In regards to the tax charges, Weiss’ office said earlier this year that “Hunter Biden received taxable income in excess of $1,500,000 annually in calendar years 2017 and 2018. Despite owing in excess of $100,000 in federal income taxes each year, he did not pay the income tax due for either year.”
The gun charge was filed against Biden for his illegal ownership of a Colt Cobra .38 Special handgun.
The original deal would have seen prosecutors recommend probation for the tax violations. As for his gun possession deal, Biden would see the felony charge dropped if he met certain conditions laid out in court, including added to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, no use of controlled substances or alcohol, and no violations of local, state, or federal laws, NBC News reported.
However, sentencing now remains an open question.
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