Hunter Biden Seeks Dismissal of Tax Charges as Politically Motivated- Hunter Biden, the son of U.S. President Joe Biden, has sought the dismissal of tax charges against him, arguing that they are politically motivated. This move comes after he pleaded not guilty to nine federal tax charges in the Central District of California in January, following allegations that he engaged in a four-year scheme to avoid paying at least $1.4 million in federal taxes. The charges include failure to file and pay taxes, tax evasion, and filing a false tax return.

Hunter Biden’s legal team has argued that the charges against him are part of a “selective and vindictive prosecution” that has been influenced by politics. They contend that the Justice Department has changed its charging decisions and increased the pressure on Hunter Biden in response to political pressure and its own interests.

Key Facts

• Hunter Biden is arguing that the tax charges against him are politically motivated, suggesting that prosecutors are targeting him in response to Republican criticism. This claim is part of a broader legal strategy to dismiss the charges.
• The appointment of David Weiss as special counsel and his involvement in the investigation have been central to Biden’s defense, with arguments focusing on the impropriety of his appointment and the potential influence of political considerations.
• The dismissal argument and the broader legal strategy highlight the complex interplay between politics and justice, particularly in high-profile cases involving the children of sitting presidents.

This argument is based on a nearly six-year record of the Justice Department’s actions, which began during the Trump administration and continued into the Biden administration.

In addition to the tax charges, Hunter Biden also faces federal gun charges, including an allegation that he possessed a firearm while using a narcotic. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges as well.

The special counsel leading the investigation, David Weiss, has rebuffed these claims, calling them “conspiratorial” and “nothing more than a house of cards.” Weiss’ office has argued that the charges against Hunter Biden are not politically motivated and that the prosecution is not influenced by former President Trump or Congressional Republicans. They have also disputed claims that the appointment of Weiss as special counsel was unlawful and that funding for the investigation had not been approved by Congress, violating the Appropriations Clause.

Federal prosecutors have forcefully rejected Hunter Biden’s assertion that the case against him was politically motivated. They argue that the prosecution has “upped the ante” to appease politicians who have no connection to the prosecution and are not members of the current Executive Branch. Prosecutors have also highlighted that proposed agreements for Biden’s plea were signed “weeks after politicians had railed against them,” suggesting that the charges were not brought in response to political pressure.