A prospective plea bargain for President Joe Biden’s son Hunter fell apart in court this week. The purported agreement regarding a number of tax and firearms charges was nixed by U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika Wednesday, with the First Son potentially facing jail time.
The younger Biden was expected to plead guilty to a number of federal charges, which would likely result in him avoiding jail time. However, there was a disagreement regarding whether or not Hunter Biden would be protected from future prosecution.
After further discussion, a potential plea deal was described as “more limited in scope” and would not prevent such future charges.
However, Noreika did not accept the terms of the plea bargain and requested both U.S. Attorney David Weiss and Hunter Biden’s legal team to submit additional briefs.
The news comes as the president’s son is the focus of a significant investigation by the House Oversight Committee.
Noreika set a number of firm terms for the president’s son following the end of the prospective plea package.
As part of the judge’s conditions of release, the younger Biden is not allowed to consume drugs or alcohol.
This could be especially difficult for the president’s son, who has filmed himself using drugs and alcohol in the past.
Reminder that two days after this plea deal was announced, Hunter Biden was partying at a State dinner where the Attorney General was also in attendance. https://t.co/A5OiBVhQSQ
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) July 26, 2023
Recently, a photo reportedly from his laptop appeared to show him smoking crack cocaine while driving. Last week, Biden’s attorney Kevin Morris was caught on camera smoking what appeared to be marijuana while visiting his client.
The judge said that Hunter Biden may be subject to random drug and alcohol tests.
“The defendant must not obstruct, attempt to obstruct or tamper with the efficiency and accuracy of prohibited substance screening or testing,” the judge wrote.
Hunter Biden may also be required to “participate in a program of inpatient or outpatient substance abuse therapy and counseling.”
Noreika wrote that if the younger Biden violated any of the terms of release, he may be subject to “the immediate issuance of a warrant for your arrest, a revocation of your release, an order of detention, a forfeiture of any bond and a prosecution for contempt of court and could result in imprisonment, a fine or both.”
