(Patriot.Buzz) – In a groundbreaking development in the criminal case stemming from his secretive dealings with foreign agents, the date for Hunter Biden’s trial has been finally set.
Following a not guilty plea in a federal court in Los Angeles concerning tax charges related to his business activities, the presiding judge scheduled the trial for June 20, 2024.
Hunter has been criminally charged with failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019, during which time he spent millions on drugs, escorts, exotic cars, and other luxury items. The charges also led to an impeachment inquiry against his father.
If convicted of these charges, Hunter could face a sentence of up to 17 years in prison. His lawyer, Abbe Lowell, stated that Hunter has since paid off his back taxes and claims his client is being targeted due to his prominent family name.
In a separate federal case in Delaware, Hunter also pleaded not guilty to charges of lying about his illegal drug use when purchasing a gun. This charge alone carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison upon conviction.
Federal prosecutor David Weiss is pursuing both legal cases against Hunter Biden. Weiss has been investigating Hunter Biden since 2019 and was appointed special prosecutor last year. A proposed plea deal was rejected by a federal judge last summer, and the Justice Department has indicated that the investigation into Hunter Biden is still ongoing.
In a related political development, House Republicans are seeking to hold Hunter in contempt of Congress for refusing to testify in a closed-door session as part of their impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden. This situation could lead to additional criminal charges against Hunter.
Lawmakers denied Hunter’s proposal to testify publicly in the impeachment probe. His unexpected appearance at a recent House hearing, where the contempt charges were being considered, caused a significant disturbance on Capitol Hill.
In the tax case, prosecutors disclosed that Hunter Biden earned over $7 million between 2016 and 2019, including $2.3 million from his role on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian industrial conglomerate. He also served on the board of CEFC China Energy Co Ltd, a Chinese energy conglomerate.
A recent Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll indicates a divided public opinion regarding Hunter’s prosecution. According to the survey, 44% of U.S. adults believe the prosecution is politically motivated, while 33% disagree. Simultaneously, 56% of respondents think Hunter is receiving preferential treatment from prosecutors.