Federal Prosecutors Accused of 'Slime' Attempt in Hunter Biden's Trial

In a heated courtroom exchange, Hunter Biden's attorney, Mark Geragos, accused federal prosecutors of attempting to "slime" the first son by introducing evidence of his extravagant spending on strippers and pornography in his upcoming tax trial in Los Angeles. Geragos argued that the prosecution's focus on Hunter's personal expenditures, while he allegedly failed to pay $1.4 million in taxes, constitutes "character assassination" and should be barred from the trial. Prosecutors, led by special counsel David Weiss, countered that the details of Hunter's lavish spending are essential for jurors to understand, as he reportedly wrote off these expenses as business deductions. Weiss emphasized that while Hunter's choices in spending are legal, claiming them as business expenses raises significant legal questions. The defense faced setbacks during the hearing, with Judge Mark Scarsi ruling against allowing an expert witness on addiction to testify. Additionally, the judge prohibited testimony linking Hunter's substance abuse issues to the tragic deaths of his mother and brother, which the defense had hoped would contextualize his struggles. Geragos expressed frustration over the prosecution's strategy, particularly regarding the release of information about Hunter's dealings with Romanian businessman Gabriel Popoviciu, suggesting it was intended to provoke media interest and bias the jury. As jury selection is set to begin on September 5, Hunter Biden maintains his not guilty plea on nine counts, including three felonies, facing a potential sentence of up to 25 years.