Hunter Biden arrives in court to plead guilty to tax charges in ‘sweetheart deal’ – with lawyer who smoked bong on balcony
- President’s son walked into Delaware court with his ‘sugar brother’ Kevin Morris
- Hunter is set to plead guilty to two tax misdemeanors when he faces the judge
- Republicans have urged judge to block agreement where he’ll likely avoid jail
President Joe Biden’s scandal-hit son Hunter has arrived in federal court to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges as part of ‘sweetheart deal’ to likely avoid jail.
He could have faced up to 12 months in prison for not paying $100,000 in taxes he owed on $1.5 million in income in both 2017 and 2018, and ten years for lying about being addicted to crack cocaine on a federal form when buying a gun.
But the agreement that will likely see him spend no time behind bars has sparked fury from Republicans who have demanded the judge block it.
Hunter walked into the federal court in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, alongside his ‘sugar brother’ and lawyer Kevin Morris – who was seen smoking a bong during a visit from the president’s son last week.
He stepped out of a motorcade with a police escort and walked across the sidewalk alongside his legal team and surrounded by Secret Service agents.
U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika will likely accept the plea deal less than 24 hours after she threatened Hunter’s attorneys with sanctions over allegations they lied to a clerk in her office.
President Joe Biden ‘s scandal-hit son Hunter has arrived in federal court to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges as part of ‘sweetheart deal’ to likely avoid jail
Hunter walked into the federal court in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, alongside his ‘sugar brother’ and lawyer Kevin Morris (left) – who was seen smoking a bong during a visit from the president’s son last week
A member of Hunter’s legal team allegedly called the court to try and get information on testimony from IRS whistleblowers removed from the docket.
His lawyers claimed it was a simple mistake.
Hunter’s attorneys are set to do all the talking, and he may only be heard when he gives his plea.
The deal has also been under intense scrutiny over bombshell testimony from whistleblowers claiming he got preferential treatment during the five-year investigation from U.S. Attorney David Weiss.
The misdemeanor charges stem from failing to pay taxes he owed on $1.5 million in income in 2017 and 2018, and he is expected to avoid prosecution for lying about using drugs when he bought a Colt Cobra 38SPL revolver in October 2018.
On Wednesday night, he flew alongside his ‘sugar brother’ and lawyer Kevin Morris in a private jet from Los Angeles to Philadelphia.
Morris was seen smoking a bong on the balcony of a Malibu, California, property during a visit from the president’s son.
A Secret Service agent stands by as Hunter Biden makes his way into court to face the judge
Kevin Morris, the lawyer who helped Hunter pay off $2million in delinquent taxes, walks behind the president’s son on the way into the courthouse
Law enforcement secure the area outside the federal court in Wilmington, Delaware, ahead of Hunter Biden’s court appearance on Wednesday
Hunter allegedly lied on a firearm report (above) required for his gun transaction. A photo of the form shows he answered ‘no’ when asked if he was an ‘unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance
Last Thursday, Hunter’s attorney Kevin Morris was seen smoking from a bong in public view. He has been revealed as one of the buyers of Hunter’s artwork
Judge Noreikawho was at the center of drama on Tuesday night after she threatened Hunter’s lawyers with sanctions.
It was alleged that Hunter’s lawyers sought to remove testimony from IRS whistleblowers about the Justice Department’s lackluster criminal investigation into his tax offenses from the court docket.
But Hunter’s lawyers blamed allegations they conspired to a lie simply to an ‘unfortunate misunderstanding’.
A picture from Hunter Biden’s leaked hard drive shows him posing naked while holding a semi-automatic handgun by his side
‘The matter under consideration appears to stem from an unfortunate and unintentional miscommunication between a staff member at our firm and employees of the Court. We have no idea how the misunderstanding occurred, but our understanding is there was no misrepresentation,’ Salerno wrote to Judge Noreika on Tuesday evening.
He claimed that Jessica Bengels, the Latham staffer accused of pretending to be from another law firm, has a phone number which should show up as ‘LATHAM’ on the clerk’s caller ID.
The White House has avoided discussing Hunter’s legal troubles by claiming he is a private citizen or referring questions to the Department of Justice.
Salerno attached an affidavit from Bengels, in which she claimed she initially called a different court clerk, ‘Julia’, from her Latham phone, identified herself truthfully, but was later called back by the first clerk, Samantha.
‘At around 11.54am, another Court employee called my Latham & Watkins phone number (which I believe she knew through caller ID) to let me know she would be removing the material from the docket,’ Bengels wrote. ‘She did not ask which law firm I was affiliated with, and at no time during this call did I mention anything about my law firm affiliation.
‘I believe there may have been some confusion when Julia passed the information on to the other Court employee, resulting in a mistaken understanding that I had called from Mr. Kittila’s firm.
‘I am completely confident that I never indicated that I was calling from Mr. Kittila’s firm or that I worked with him in any way.’
When Hunter was charged, the president and first lady said they were ‘proud’ of him.
His lawyer Christopher Clark said last month: ‘I know Hunter believes it is important to take responsibility for these mistakes he made during a period of turmoil and addiction in his life.
Hunter Biden’s many controversies have been a headache for his father’s presidential term and could be weaponized by Republicans in the 2024 race. The president and his son are pictured together in August 2022
‘He looks forward to continuing his recovery and moving forward.’
The gun charges stemmed from a firearms form Hunter had to fill out to buy the revolver.
Delaware, where the First Son purchased the 0.38 caliber pistol, makes any buyer answer a series of questions before they can lay their hands on a weapon.
One from the 2018 application asks if the applicant uses or is addicted to drugs. The box is clearly checked ‘no.’
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