Written by Abigail Williams.
In a surprising turn of events, Hunter Biden’s defense team has shifted blame onto a gun store employee for his felony charge. Abbe Lowell, Biden’s lawyer, argued in a Delaware court that the employee helped fill out the incriminating form. This form, which Biden allegedly lied on, pertains to his drug use while purchasing a firearm.
The defense suggested that Hunter Biden, the brother of the former Delaware attorney general and son of its longtime U.S. senator, was unaware of state laws prohibiting drug addicts from owning guns. Despite this attempt to deflect blame, the new court filings raised questions due to irregularities in the forms, such as the use of three different-colored pens by the employee.
U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika presided over the hearing, which was expected to be the final one before the trial begins with jury selection on June 3. Hunter Biden, following his lawyers into the Wilmington courthouse, did not address reporters. He faces charges of lying about his drug use on a gun purchase form in October 2018, a period during which he has admitted to being addicted to crack cocaine.
Legal Battles and Evidence Disputes
Hunter Biden’s lawyers argue that he didn’t break any laws and insist that the case is politically motivated. The legal teams have been clashing over evidence, including data from Biden’s abandoned laptop, which was recovered from a Delaware repair shop and made public by the opposition-research group Marco Polo at BidenLaptopMedia.com.
Defense attorneys have questioned the authenticity of the laptop’s data, but prosecutors assert there’s no evidence of data tampering. They argue that disputing the data’s authenticity at trial would be a waste of time. Initially dismissed as Russian disinformation, the laptop’s contents have been verified by forensic experts and intelligence officials. Former Biden business associates have also confirmed its authenticity.
Prosecutors plan to present excerpts from Hunter Biden’s 2021 memoir, Beautiful Things, where he discusses his battles with alcoholism and drug abuse following his brother Beau’s death from brain cancer. This personal account adds another layer to the ongoing legal drama.
Ongoing Federal Investigations
Hunter Biden is also entangled in federal tax charges in Los Angeles, with a trial set for September. He’s accused of failing to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes over four years, despite living an extravagant lifestyle during his addiction struggles. Although he has since paid the back taxes, the charges remain.
His defense has unsuccessfully tried to get both cases dismissed, arguing that political pressure influenced the indictments after a plea agreement fell through. They claim that federal investigators delayed the case despite clear evidence, including the laptop, until whistleblowers testified before Congress, prompting U.S. Attorney David Weiss to act under public scrutiny.
The federal investigation, which seemed poised to conclude with a plea deal, fell apart after Judge Noreika raised concerns about its terms. The agreement would have placed Hunter Biden on two years of probation for misdemeanor tax charges, and he would have avoided prosecution on the gun charge if he stayed out of trouble. With the deal off the table, Hunter Biden now faces a more challenging legal battle.
Our Take
Hunter Biden’s defense strategy of blaming a gun store employee for his felony charge is a clear attempt to deflect responsibility. This case, coupled with the ongoing tax evasion charges, paints a troubling picture of preferential treatment and delayed justice. From a politically conservative perspective, this situation underscores the need for equal application of the law, regardless of one’s connections or family background.
The defense’s argument that the charges are politically motivated doesn’t hold water when considering the substantial evidence against Hunter Biden. The laptop’s contents, which have been verified by multiple sources, reveal a pattern of questionable behavior and potential lawbreaking. By attempting to shift blame and challenge the authenticity of damning evidence, Hunter Biden’s legal team is diverting attention from the real issue: accountability.
This case highlights a broader problem of perceived double standards in the justice system. The delayed investigation and the initial leniency proposed in the plea deal suggest that Hunter Biden may have benefited from his political connections. Such actions erode public trust in the legal system and reinforce the belief that there is a two-tiered system of justice.
Moreover, the defense’s narrative that Hunter Biden was unaware of the laws prohibiting drug addicts from owning firearms is implausible. Ignorance of the law is not a valid defense, especially for someone with access to extensive legal resources. The attempt to blame a gun store employee for the error is a weak defense that fails to address the core issue of personal responsibility.
Hunter Biden’s legal troubles serve as a stark reminder of the need for transparency and fairness in the justice system. As the trial approaches, it will be crucial to ensure that the proceedings are conducted with integrity and that justice is served without favoritism.