Judge refused to approve Biden’s son’s plea deal

The plea bargain that the son of US President Hunter Biden was preparing to make after pleading guilty to tax crimes and illegal gun possession has fallen apart in the courtroom.

The deal, the terms of which had been worked out over several weeks, would likely have saved Hunter from prison. However, the judge refused to sign it, and Hunter’s attorneys were given two weeks to draft a new document.

The felony charge is the first time in U.S. history that the son of a sitting president has been indicted. It was preceded by a five-year investigation.

Under the terms of the plea deal announced back in June, Hunter was required to plead guilty to two counts of tax evasion in 2017 and 2018, as well as illegal possession of weapons while addicted to drugs, while agreeing to mandatory drug treatment and supervision.

In exchange, he will not be charged with the more serious counts that could carry actual jail time.

However, during the three-hour-long hearing, District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika questioned whether the deal would provide Hunter Biden immunity from prosecution for crimes still under investigation.

According to CNN, the U.S. Justice Department has not yet finished investigating other episodes of Hunter’s background when he worked in China and Ukraine while his father was vice president. The department is looking into whether he should have registered as a foreign agent.

The deal contained “unusual terms” and the resolution of the illegal weapons possession issue was “unusual”, she said.

Lawyers for both sides then entered into negotiations right in the courtroom in full view of reporters in an attempt to salvage the deal or at least get a narrower agreement.

But it ended with Donald Trump-appointed Judge Noreika refusing to sign the deal and giving both sides two weeks to reach a new agreement.

And Hunter Biden, who was initially willing to plead guilty, has so far pleaded not guilty.

“Hunter Biden is a private citizen and this is his private matter,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.

The president and first lady “love and support their son as he continues to rebuild his life.”

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