Hunter Biden indicted, federal gun charges, Sept 2023

[Ex-presso]

Hunter Biden tells court about foreign companies he worked for
From CNN's Tierney Sneed, Marshall Cohen, Kara Scannell, Holmes Lybrand

The judge is asking Hunter Biden a series of questions about the facts that are included in the charging documents.

The judge asked Biden for the names of the foreign companies where he has worked.

"The Ukrainian energy company was Burisma," Biden said. Biden has also mentioned his work for a Chinese energy company, CEFC. His ties to that company have come under intense scrutiny by House Republicans.

The judge asked Biden, "You did know that you owed tax money, right?"

Biden said, "Yes, your honor."

Hunter Biden plea deal on hold

A plea deal between Hunter Biden and the Justice Department over tax charges is on hold after a federal judge said in a dramatic court hearing Wednesday that she was not ready to accept a revised agreement between both parties.

www.cnn.com

 

[sds71]

Well of course they could always charge him later on unrelated issues. Was there some thing that said they couldn't?

Biden’s lawyers thought the plea deal would give him total immunity against future charges and backed out of the deal after the DOJ said it wouldn’t.

 

[bestill]

Biden’s lawyers thought the plea deal would give him total immunity against future charges and backed out of the deal after the DOJ said it wouldn’t.

And my understanding is the Judge is concerned about double jeopardy, meaning that Hunter couldn't be charged once he pled guilty. By the potential of charges forthcoming this is a real can of worms legally and politically, imo.

 

[PrairieWind]

And my understanding is the Judge is concerned about double jeopardy, meaning that Hunter couldn't be charged once he pled guilty. By the potential of charges forthcoming this is a real can of worms legally and politically, imo.

I think maybe the Judge is perplexed as to what the DOJ is trying to say. They seem to be saying the plea agreement doesn't prohibit future charges on these actions. But the law clearly prohibits it.

 

[Ex-presso]

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley told CNN that the back-and-forth in court today on Hunter Biden’s plea deal shows that the deal was always flawed and that more charges could be coming down.

“It's very telling that the judge intervened here and said basically, ‘No, I'm not going to approve some sweeping blanket deal,’" the Republican from Missouri said. “I mean, that tells you the court has serious concerns about other potential charges here, and also the scope of the deal, which has seemed outrageous from the beginning.”

He added, “This, I think, signals that they're still very much as potential for prosecution forward.”

Hawley said that Biden should not receive special treatment, as whistleblowers have alleged. “He should be treated like any other person under the law. That's my view on him.”

Hunter Biden plea deal on hold

A plea deal between Hunter Biden and the Justice Department over tax charges is on hold after a federal judge said in a dramatic court hearing Wednesday that she was not ready to accept a revised agreement between both parties.

www.cnn.com

 

[Ex-presso]

US District Judge Maryellen Noreika called the deal federal prosecutors reached with Hunter Biden for his gun possession offense “unusual.”

She said the deal — in which Biden would enter the diversion program to resolve the charge — contains some "non-standard terms," such as "broad immunity" from other potential charges.

"We don't usually make diversion agreements public," the judge said, referring to the move by the parties to make that aspect of their agreement public and discuss it in open court.

Hunter Biden plea deal on hold

A plea deal between Hunter Biden and the Justice Department over tax charges is on hold after a federal judge said in a dramatic court hearing Wednesday that she was not ready to accept a revised agreement between both parties.

www.cnn.com

 

[IceIce9]

Hunter Biden’s Plea Deal in Jeopardy

The judge is questioning the scope of his deal, and the parties are furiously trying to salvage it. Under the agreement with the Justice Department, Biden had agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and avoid prosecution and jail time on a gun charge.

www.nytimes.com

 

[PrairieWind]

The use of the word "immunity" itself is quite odd.

 

[Chimera]

The plea deal has fallen apart

https://twitter.com/x/status/1684228155173748736

They hearing is in a break. CNN is reporting

Thanks for the link.
You beat me to it !

Looks like Hunter needed a better legal team ; although I'd imagine he had the best money could afford to hire ?
But there are some actions and decisions that can't be ignored; and it looks like the judge is going to be impartial ?
Omo.

 

[sds71]

@PaulaReidCNN


UPDATE: Judge now says she is not ready to accept Hunter Biden plea deal. Both sides will need to submit additional briefs and parties will have to return to court in future.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

I assume no deal because Biden just entered a plea of Not Guilty.

 

[bestill]

Plea deal not accepted and hearing has ended. JMO

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

US District Judge Maryellen Noreika called the deal federal prosecutors reached with Hunter Biden for his gun possession offense “unusual.”

She said the deal — in which Biden would enter the diversion program to resolve the charge — contains some "non-standard terms," such as "broad immunity" from other potential charges.

"We don't usually make diversion agreements public," the judge said, referring to the move by the parties to make that aspect of their agreement public and discuss it in open court.

Hunter Biden plea deal on hold

A plea deal between Hunter Biden and the Justice Department over tax charges is on hold after a federal judge said in a dramatic court hearing Wednesday that she was not ready to accept a revised agreement between both parties.

www.cnn.com

I wonder why they asked for “broad immunity“? Rhetorical question.

Glad the judge saw right through this.

 

[Ex-presso]

The absolute gall to gift himself blanket immunity from accountability for other criminal conduct!

 

[bestill]

I wonder why they asked for “broad immunity“? Rhetorical question.

Glad the judge saw right through this.

It is really amazing how things have changed in the last 24 hours, when you consider the email and how the plea deal blew up today.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

This whole deal seems very shady to me if I’m understanding it.

The DOJ, H Biden and his defense team had to all sit down and agree to the terms of the deal. The judge questions the deal as such and particularly the “broad immunity“ clause. The prosecution then has to renege on the deal because they knew the terms of the deal were so ludicrous and unusual and they got called out on it. IMO This is how I see it.

 

[Chimera]

I wonder why they asked for “broad immunity“? Rhetorical question.

Glad the judge saw right through this.

Maybe .. just in case something emerges in the future ?
If no one else would be afforded such an agreement (broad immunity), then neither should he.
The laws should apply equally to all.
Omo.

 

[bestill]

The more I read it seems there are still investigations going on that may lead to further charges regarding his business relationships with foreign countries and neglecting to register as FARA - FARA Enforcement

jmo

 

[sds71]

Jacqui Heinrich

@JacquiHeinrich

As part of his release conditions, Judge Noreika ordered Hunter Biden to get a job, drink NO alcohol, not use or possess any drugs, and — if asked by pretrial services or officers —submit to testing and participate in substance abuse therapy

 

[mickey2942]

LOL, Hunter needs to actually get a job?! No alcohol? Random UA for substances? He has a law degree, he must be able to get a job doing something.