Internet weighs in as Hunter Biden's attorneys fight to dismiss tax case saying he did 'stupid things'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Attorneys representing Hunter Biden, the first son of President Joe Biden, launched a vigorous defense on Wednesday, aiming to dismiss a federal indictment alleging tax evasion totaling $1.4 million over the years 2016 to 2019.

However, even as they battled to have the charges dropped, they conceded that their client had committed "clearly stupid things."

Political controversy surrounds the prosecution

Leading the charge for Hunter Biden was his high-powered defense attorney, Abbe Lowell, who filed eight motions last month. Lowell contended that the prosecution led by special counsel David Weiss was "selective and vindictive," arguing that political bias tainted the proceedings.

He further claimed that some of the charges fell outside the statute of limitations.

The legal drama unfolded at the US District Court in front of Judge Mark Scarsi, where Lowell sparred with federal prosecutors for several hours. He accused the prosecution of being swayed by "Republicans in Congress and whistleblowers from the IRS," while also challenging the validity of Weiss' appointment as special counsel.

In response, prosecutor Leo Wise rebuked the defense, accusing them of engaging in "revisionist history" and launching "fact-free" attacks against the special counsel's office. Wise asserted that Hunter Biden willfully evaded taxes for several years, including a failure to pay taxes entirely from 2017 to 2020.

While Judge Scarsi appeared skeptical of claims of political interference, he deferred a final ruling on the motions until April 17.

Hunter Biden, 54, had previously pleaded not guilty to the nine tax charges in January and is slated to face trial on June 20, following another federal trial in Delaware for falsifying information on a federal gun-purchase form in 2018.

The looming legal battles have cast a shadow over the Biden family, with Hunter potentially facing up to 17 years in prison for the tax charges, although maximum sentences are rarely imposed.

These indictments stem from the collapse of an earlier plea deal and allegations of Justice Department interference in the IRS investigation into Hunter's finances. House Republicans have seized on these allegations, launching an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden based partially on disclosures from IRS whistleblowers.

These developments have put Attorney General Merrick Garland's decision to elevate Weiss to special counsel status under scrutiny, especially given Weiss' prior role as Delaware's US attorney.

The legal wrangling intensified as Lowell accused the IRS whistleblowers of misconduct for disclosing details of their investigation. He also criticized media coverage surrounding the case, highlighting a prosecutor's filing that mistakenly alleged a substance abuse issue.

Amidst the legal turmoil, revelations surfaced about Hollywood lawyer Kevin Morris, colloquially known as Hunter's "sugar brother," who loaned Hunter $5 million to settle his tax liabilities.

The proceedings also shed light on a plea agreement that collapsed in Delaware last year, with Hunter's legal team asserting that prosecutors reneged on granting him immunity from further prosecution.

However, prosecutors maintain that the deal was never finalized and left open the possibility of future charges, including potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, per the New York Post.

Social media reactions

Social media was inundated with reactions after it emerged that Hunter Biden's lawyers were seeking to dismiss the tax case against him arguing the proceedings were politically motivated.

"Hell. No. Convict," one posted on X.

"Do the crime Do the time," another wrote.

"It's not political when it's true!" someone else added.

"He needs to go to jail," another chimed in.

The next hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, May 29, in Los Angeles.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.