Federal prosecutors have opposed a request by Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, to have his first court appearance on felony firearm charges conducted via video. The Department of Justice special counsel, David Weiss, stated in a court filing that Hunter Biden should be treated the same as any other defendant. He pointed out that the court’s pandemic-related order allowing virtual proceedings had expired in June 2022, and since then, in-person appearances have been the norm.
Hunter Biden’s defense attorney, Abbe Lowell, argued that a virtual court appearance would alleviate the burden on government resources and minimize disruptions to the courthouse and downtown areas of Wilmington. Lowell assured the judge that Hunter Biden would plead not guilty to the charges during the virtual appearance, suggesting that the simple act of saying those two words could be easily done through a video conference.
Special counsel Weiss rebutted Lowell’s argument, dismissing convenience as a valid reason for virtual proceedings. He stated that if convenience alone were enough, every defendant would request virtual appearances in every case. Furthermore, Weiss emphasized that Hunter Biden’s prior court appearance was far from routine. In a proceeding held in late July, a plea deal between Hunter Biden and prosecutors on criminal tax charges fell apart after facing scrutiny from a judge. Hunter Biden ultimately pleaded not guilty to those tax charges, which led to a dispute over a pretrial diversion agreement on a gun-related charge.
Weiss indicated that an in-person proceeding may be preferable to address any unforeseen issues that could arise in the case. He highlighted the government’s anticipation that this proceeding would be straightforward, given the lack of agreement between the parties to resolve the matter. Weiss stated, “we believe an in-person proceeding may be more conducive to addressing any unforeseen issues that arise.”
Hunter Biden, aged 53, was recently indicted on three criminal counts related to his possession of a firearm while being an unlawful drug user. As an individual who has been open about his struggles with substance abuse, Hunter Biden faces two counts of lying about his illegal drug use in connection with the purchase of a Colt Cobra revolver. The third count accuses him of possessing a firearm as an unlawful drug user.
This article provides an overview of the ongoing legal proceedings involving Hunter Biden’s felony firearm charges. Despite his defense attorney’s request for a virtual court appearance, federal prosecutors argue against it, emphasizing that Hunter Biden should be treated like any other defendant. The hearing’s format is significant, considering the prior complications during Hunter Biden’s court appearance in relation to criminal tax charges. Ultimately, the decision rests with the judge, who must consider the arguments put forth by both the prosecution and the defense.
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