Hunter Biden Plea Deal Shifts Amidst IRS Whistleblower Claims

In a recent development, it has been revealed that prosecutors sought a more stringent plea deal for Hunter Biden around the time when two IRS whistleblowers emerged, alleging possible preferential treatment and obstruction of the investigation by the Justice Department. Although the exact reasons for this change remain uncertain, the shift coincided with the emergence of the whistleblowers' claims.

  

Hunter Biden

Photo: CNN

Sources familiar with the case, as well as a collection of confidential emails exchanged between Special Counsel David Weiss's team and Hunter Biden's legal representatives, shed light on this evolving narrative. Despite reaching a point in late 2022 where Weiss believed there were insufficient grounds to pursue felony tax charges against Hunter Biden, one of his key deputies proposed an alternative solution. This alternative involved a single "diversion agreement," wherein Hunter Biden would be exempt from charges if he committed to settling his outstanding taxes and refraining from firearm purchases in the future.

Although a draft agreement was prepared in May, negotiations continued, marked by a caveat in the prosecutors' emails indicating a lack of higher-level approval for the emerging deal.

In a twist, it seems that the proposed plea arrangement was withdrawn roughly concurrent with the emergence of allegations by two IRS whistleblowers. These whistleblowers, who had played a pivotal role in the investigation, claimed that the Justice Department was intervening inappropriately in the case. Coinciding with these developments, Weiss reportedly demanded that Hunter Biden plead guilty to a pair of tax misdemeanors.

Hunter Biden eventually agreed to the revised terms, leading to a dual-pronged deal. This new arrangement involved a guilty plea for the tax misdemeanors and a "diversion agreement" that stipulated the potential dismissal of a gun-related charge after two years, contingent upon Hunter Biden passing drug tests and avoiding legal complications.

These proposed deals were brought before Judge Maryellen Noreika during a July hearing. However, Judge Noreika sought further clarification regarding the constitutionality of the agreements, which ultimately led to an impasse between the two parties. Subsequently, the plea deals crumbled, prompting Weiss to request special counsel status.

As the investigation presses forward, Weiss has hinted at the possibility of pursuing more severe felony charges, implying that a trial might be necessary now that the plea negotiations have faltered. Meanwhile, Hunter Biden's legal team maintains that a trial is not an inevitability and asserts the validity and binding nature of the gun-related aspect of the deal, citing the signed agreement. The final decision likely rests with the presiding judge.

In response to the allegations made by the IRS whistleblowers, both Weiss and Attorney General Merrick Garland, alongside other senior officials from the Justice Department, have categorically denied the accusations. These allegations, which have garnered support from congressional Republicans, add another layer of complexity to an already intricate legal saga.