NEWS
Hunter Biden Pleads Not Guilty To Federal Gun Charges
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President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, appeared in federal court in Delaware on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to three gun charges amid his ongoing legal battles.
Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, said the defense would be filing multiple motions, including one challenging the constitutionality of the charge related to his purchase of a handgun.
The charges stem from Hunter Biden’s purchase of a gun in Delaware in October 2018, in which he allegedly lied on a federal form stating he was not using or addicted to illegal drugs while he was regularly using crack cocaine. Lying on the form, which is required by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), is a federal crime.
He is charged with two counts connected to lying on the form and one count of possessing a firearm while using a narcotic.
Hunter Biden, 53, had previously reached a deal to avoid prosecution on the gun charges by entering pre-trial diversion and meeting other requirements over a period of two years, including an agreement to acknowledge his failure to pay taxes in 2017 and 2018, which were misdemeanor violations. But the deal fell apart in July.
In court on Tuesday, the judge reminded Hunter Biden that under the conditions of his release, he remains subject to random testing for drugs and alcohol.
Charges related to Hunter Biden’s taxes could still be filed.
The charges come amid a five-year investigation into Hunter Biden’s finances and personal life, and how they relate to the Biden family’s wider business dealings.
Amid a flurry of lawsuits, attorneys for Hunter Biden sued the Internal Revenue Service, alleging the agency failed to protect his private tax records when agents illegally released his tax information.
He has also filed a federal lawsuit against former Trump White House aide Garrett Ziegler, who is not related to the IRS agent, for his alleged role in publishing documents and photos found on his laptop.
According to the lawsuit, Ziegler and 10 other unnamed defendants allegedly released tens of thousands of emails, thousands of photos, and dozens of videos and recordings on the internet. Some of those photos and videos depicted sex, drug use, and a firearm.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy launched an impeachment inquiry against President Biden, on allegations of abuse of power, obstruction, and corruption related to the family’s business dealings, including Hunter’s work on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company.
President Biden has denied any wrongdoing or involvement in his son’s affairs.
TMX contributed to this article.
