According to a recent report, lawyers representing Hunter Biden last year communicated to prosecutors that they might call President Biden to testify in his son’s defense if criminal charges were ever brought against Hunter. This revelation emerged from a letter sent by Hunter’s lawyer, Chris Clark, to prosecutors in October. The letter was prompted by leaked news suggesting that federal agents possessed enough evidence to charge Hunter with illegally purchasing a firearm while using crack cocaine.
In the letter, Clark conveyed that if the Justice Department proceeded with charging Hunter, it would necessitate putting the president on the witness stand as a fact witness for the defense in any potential criminal trial. This insight was gained from a 32-page letter obtained by Politico, along with an additional 300 pages of emails, shedding light on the unfolding dynamics surrounding Hunter’s plea deal.
Hunter Biden, aged 53, had entered a not guilty plea to federal tax and gun charges in Delaware on July 26. The plea came after his initial plea deal, criticized for its leniency by congressional Republicans, was revoked by US District Judge Maryellen Noreika. The judge cited ongoing investigations into other potential offenses committed by Hunter, including allegations of failing to register as a foreign agent in connection with lucrative dealings involving foreign countries.
Throughout prior months, Chris Clark and his legal team had expressed concerns during private negotiations with prosecutors about the highly charged political climate surrounding the case. They pointed to pressure from Republican lawmakers and argued that pursuing the case might tarnish the reputation of the Department of Justice (DOJ). Clark emphasized that putting the president against his own Justice Department would create significant constitutional challenges and a potential crisis.
As the legal proceedings unfolded, Noreika eventually dismissed tax misdemeanor charges against Hunter Biden. The Attorney General, Merrick Garland, appointed Delaware US Attorney David Weiss as a special counsel in the case. This designation permits Weiss to bring charges without requiring approval from Biden-appointed officials in other districts, addressing concerns that had previously hindered Weiss’s efforts to bring tax fraud charges against Hunter.
It is anticipated that Hunter’s trial will be conducted in either Washington DC or Southern California.
