The federal judge overseeing Hunter Biden’s tax case in California last Monday rejected multiple motions to dismiss filed by Hunter’s legal team, the Associated Press reported.
Hunter’s attorneys filed multiple motions to dismiss special counsel David Weiss’ indictment charging the president’s son with nine felony and misdemeanor tax charges for failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes over a period of four years.
Defense attorneys argued that the indictment was politically motivated and was marred by partisan politics. They also claimed that the case had been tainted by public statements by IRS investigators who revealed confidential information about the investigation when they alleged that the Department of Justice mishandled the investigation.
In a hearing on the motions last month, prosecutors rejected the defense’s claims as “far-fetched” and insisted that politics did not influence the decision to indict Hunter Biden.
In his April 1 decision, US District Judge Mark Scarsi rejected all eight motions to dismiss, writing that Hunter’s attorneys failed to provide either “a reasonable inference” or any direct evidence that the case against him was “discriminatory.”
Abbe Lowell, Hunter’s lead attorney said the defense “strongly” disagreed with Judge Scarsi’s decision. He said in a statement that Hunter’s legal team would “continue to vigorously pursue Mr. Biden’s challenges.”
Hunter also faces federal gun charges in Delaware for lying about his drug use on a federal form in October 2018 when he purchased a firearm. Biden attested on the form that he did not use nor was he addicted to illegal drugs.
Hunter pleaded not guilty to the gun charges in October.
Both the California and Delaware cases are scheduled to go to trial in June. However, the defense is also seeking to dismiss the gun case as well.
The cases stem from the probe led by US Attorney David Weiss, whom Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed as special counsel to head up the multiple investigations into President Biden’s son.
