WASHINGTON (AP) — Hunter Biden on Monday urged a delay in his federal gun case and asked an appeals court to pause the Delaware trial that begins next month.
Lawyers for the president’s son argued there is no urgent need to start the trial on the June 3 date set by the federal judge overseeing the case. They also mention the short time between the lawsuit in Delaware and the start of a new tax lawsuit in California.
Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to lying about his drug use in October 2018 on a form to purchase a gun that he kept in Delaware for about 11 days. He has admitted he was addicted to crack during that period, but his lawyers say he did not break the law.
The attorneys are asking the full 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to hear an attempt to dismiss the prosecution. It was dismissed by a three-judge panel, which did not rule on the merits of his claims but said the court had no jurisdiction to hear the case.
The attorneys are also appealing a separate decision by U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika rejecting a claim that the case violates the Constitution’s Second Amendment on firearms ownership.
These rulings paved the way for the Justice Department President Joe Biden‘s son faces trial during the president’s re-election campaign. Hunter Biden is charged separately in the California tax case, which is tentatively set to go to trial at the end of June.
The investigation appeared poised to conclude with a settlement last year, but the agreement imploded after a judge raised questions about it. Biden was subsequently indicted.
Under the deal, he would have been on probation for two years after pleading guilty to tax charges. He also would have avoided prosecution on weapons charges if he had stayed out of trouble.
His lawyers have argued that prosecutors bowed to political pressure to charge him amid heavy criticism of the plea deal from Donald Trump and other Republicans. They had also challenged the appointment of U.S. Attorney David Weiss of Delaware as special prosecutor to lead the prosecution.
Prosecutors disputed that the evidence against him was “overwhelming,” including cocaine residue found in the bag where he kept his gun.
Noreika, who was appointed to the court by former President Trump, said the defense had presented “nothing credible” showing that lawmakers or anyone else had any influence over the special counsel, adding: “It is all speculation.”
The separate Los Angeles tax bills allege that Hunter Biden failed to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes over three years while living an “extravagant lifestyle” during his drug-abuse days. He is separately challenging rulings denying his requests to dismiss these charges.
