Judge Denies Hunter Biden's Request to Dismiss Tax Charges

A federal judge has denied Hunter Biden's latest attempt to dismiss tax charges against him, paving the way for his trial set to begin next month in California. U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi ruled that Biden's motion was untimely and did not present new legal arguments regarding the appointment of special counsel David Weiss. Biden's legal team had sought to leverage recent judicial decisions related to former President Donald Trump’s cases, arguing that Weiss's appointment was unconstitutional. However, Scarsi emphasized that Biden's request was merely a rehash of previously rejected claims. In his ruling, Scarsi noted that Biden's attorneys had previously filed a similar motion in February, which was denied. The judge pointed out that the current motion failed to provide a valid basis for reconsideration, stating, "There is no valid basis for reconsideration of the Court’s order denying Mr. Biden’s motion to dismiss the indictment." He also highlighted that Weiss had charged Biden with tax offenses before being designated as special counsel, contrasting Biden's case with Trump's. While Scarsi refrained from imposing sanctions on Biden's legal team for misstatements in their filings, he admonished them for their lack of candor. The judge acknowledged their revised motion but warned that "candor is paramount" in legal proceedings. Hunter Biden faces nine charges related to failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes, and his trial is scheduled to commence on September 5. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.