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In a dramatic court hearing on Wednesday, the plea deal unraveled in Hunter Biden's criminal case. A federal judge asked questions and raised concerns about the terms of the agreement.

 Consequently, Hunter Biden entered a plea of "not guilty" while federal prosecutors confirmed that he is still under federal investigation.

Hunter Biden's sweetheart slow-walked deal.

Last month, Hunter Biden was charged with two misdemeanor crimes for failing to pay over $100,000 in taxes on an income of more than $1.5 million in both 2017 and 2018. It was anticipated that he would plead guilty after reaching an agreement with prosecutors, who were prepared to recommend two years of probation as part of the deal.

However, Judge Maryellen Noreika declined to accept the plea agreement, citing issues with its constitutionality. She offered the prosecution She expressed specific concerns about the unprecedented diversion clause in relation to gun charges from 2018 and requested examples of similar cases where such provisions were offered.

Plea Deal Unraveled

The complex nature of the overlapping agreements created confusion for the judge, who insisted that technical issues needed to be addressed before proceeding. Judge Noreika emphasized that she would not merely rubber-stamp the agreement and required both defense lawyers and prosecutors to clarify various aspects of the plea deal.

During the hearing, the judge delved into Hunter Biden's business relationships and substance use issues as she reviewed the plea agreement. She requested more specific information about certain entities mentioned in the agreement without names, urging Biden to identify the Ukrainian and Chinese entities in question.

Hunter's business partner to testify in Congress.

Additionally, the judge inquired about Hunter Biden's past substance use and the status of his treatment.

 Biden disclosed that he had last used alcohol or drugs on June 1, 2019, and though he participated in an anonymous support program for his substance issues, he was not currently undergoing treatment.

Judge Noreika also questioned federal prosecutors about the ongoing investigation and the potential for future charges. While prosecutors acknowledged that Hunter Biden was indeed under active investigation, they declined to reveal the specific nature of the investigation or the potential charges he might face. 

They made it clear that pleading guilty to the misdemeanor tax offenses would not grant immunity from future charges.

The judge raised the possibility of charges related to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), to which the prosecutors confirmed it as a possibility. 

It was at this point that the original plea deal unraveled. Defense attorney Chris Clark expressed his disagreement, leading prosecutor Wise to state unequivocally, "Then there’s no deal." Clark asserted that, as far as he was concerned, the plea deal was null and void.

More revelations in Congress

The  Hunter Biden case had been complicated when IRS whistleblowers, Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, alleged misconduct by the Department of Justice (DOJ) throughout the extensive investigation into the president's son.

 According to the whistleblowers, political influence played a significant role in prosecutorial decisions made during the course of the investigation.

The House Ways & Means Committee Chairman, Jason Smith, filed an amicus brief with the court, urging that the whistleblower testimony be carefully considered before accepting the intended plea deal. 

Chairman Smith expressed concerns that Hunter Biden may have received favorable treatment due to political interference, which raises questions about the propriety of the U.S. Attorney's Office's handling of the investigation.

Was Joe Biden "The Big Guy"?

Meanwhile, President Biden has chosen to remain mostly silent on the matter. The only public statement he made was, "I’m very proud of my son."