Hunter Biden’s Federal Tax Trial to Begin Sept. 5

Tensions flared between prosecutors and defence attorneys at a preliminary hearing on Wednesday in the federal tax case against Hunter Biden.

Both sides debated what evidence should be allowed as the trial approaches its September 5 start date.

Mark Geragos, a high-profile attorney recently added to Hunter Biden’s defence team, accused the prosecution of attempting to turn the trial into a “character assassination” rather than focusing on the legal facts.

“If they want to try this case…on the facts, the evidence of the law, we’re very hopeful,” Geragos stated.

Prosecutors sought to exclude any references to the causes of Biden’s substance abuse, particularly the deaths of his mother and sister. District Judge Mark Scarsi appeared sceptical about the relevance of these personal tragedies to Biden’s defence.

Biden’s struggle with addiction from 2016 to 2019 is central to the case, as prosecutors allege that he committed tax offences during this period.

Hunter Biden is facing nine felony charges related to tax evasion, following his recent felony gun conviction in Delaware for illegally purchasing and possessing a firearm. He is scheduled to be sentenced for the gun charge in November.

The current charges were pursued by Special Counsel David Weiss after a previous plea agreement fell apart in July 2023. The judge in that case had raised concerns that the agreement might allow Biden to evade future charges, particularly those related to his taxes.

The 56-page indictment accuses Hunter Biden of orchestrating a “four-year scheme” between 2016 and 2019 to avoid paying over $1.4 million in federal taxes.

The charges include felonies and misdemeanours related to his alleged failure to file and pay taxes, tax evasion, and filing false tax returns. Biden has pleaded not guilty to all charges and could face up to 17 years in prison if convicted.

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Prosecutors claim that during the years in question, Biden earned more than $7 million in gross income but failed to pay his taxes, instead funding an “extravagant lifestyle.”

They allege that he misclassified personal expenses, such as luxury hotel stays, vehicle rentals, and escort services, as business deductions to evade taxes.

Biden’s attorneys requested that Judge Scarsi exclude what they described as “salacious” details about his spending habits, arguing that these details are “unnecessary,” “prejudicial,” and could unfairly influence the jury.

While prosecutors acknowledged that some of the evidence is “ugly and personal,” they argued that it demonstrates Biden’s “sophisticated” financial decisions and is crucial to the case.

Geragos criticized the prosecution’s strategy, pointing out what he sees as an inconsistency in their approach.

“We have an office of special counsel who on one coast wants to prove that Hunter was an addict during this time period, and then comes over to this coast that wants to run away from that and wants to recast it as an extravagant lifestyle,” he said.

Judge Scarsi did not immediately rule on whether evidence related to the cause of Biden’s addiction or details of his lifestyle would be allowed. However, he did side with the prosecution in excluding any mention of Biden’s payment of delinquent taxes through a third party after the investigation began.

“The crime was completed—he didn’t pay it,” prosecutors argued.

Prosecutors also clarified that there would be no testimony during the trial alleging that Biden violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) or improperly coordinated with the Obama administration.

Judge Scarsi ruled that no evidence suggesting Biden violated FARA or coordinated with the Obama administration would be admitted during the trial.

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