Hunter Biden 's attorneys say prosecutors need not mention "allegations of foreign wrongdoing" at his upcoming federal tax trial, arguing prosecutors are trying to insert "politically charged" details about the president's son.
Special counsel David Weiss's team told U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi last week they plan to call a business associate of the president's son to the stand to testify about an arrangement with Romanian businessman Gabriel Popoviciu, who was attempting to "influence the U.S. government" during Joe Biden 's term as vice president.
Defense attorneys blamed Weiss's office for raising matters that recall the "baseless and false allegations of foreign wrongdoing," arguing such claims are "touted by House Republicans to use Mr. Biden’s proper business activities in Romania and elsewhere to attack him and his father," according to an Aug. 11 court filing.
But prosecutors say they want to show evidence of that arrangement to rebut the defense's claims that the first son's illicit drug use during the years in which he's accused of failing to pay his taxes affected his decision-making judgment.
Weiss's team argued that the evidence does "not reflect someone with a diminished capacity, given that he agreed to attempt to influence U.S. public policy and receive millions of dollars."
Last week, Weiss revealed in a court filing that Popoviciu hired the younger Biden because he wanted U.S. government agencies, namely the State Department, to investigate a bribery inquiry he was facing in Romania in hopes that it would help end his legal troubles.
The special counsel said that Hunter Biden's business associate and Popoviciu agreed they would be paid for their attempted influence effort and that the first son's associate was paid more than $3 million, which was then divided between Hunter Biden and his partner.
Hunter Biden's counsel, led by attorney Abbe Lowell, slammed Weiss's team in their most recent filing for "showcasing these matters on the eve of Mr. Biden's trial," which is slated to commence in California federal court on Sept. 9 with jury selection.
Lowell called on the judge, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, to "not allow a side show in which issues far beyond the charges have to be explained and litigated in a tax case."
Scarsi and the defense team have already run into roadblocks during pretrial proceedings, such as when the judge threatened sanctions against Hunter Biden's team last month after accusing his defense lawyers of "making false statements" in a bid to toss out the tax indictment.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Prosecutors have charged Hunter Biden with three felonies and six misdemeanors related to $1.4 million in owed taxes. He pleaded not guilty to tax evasion and other related offenses.
The first son was also convicted earlier this summer of three felonies at a separate Delaware-based trial related to buying and possessing a gun while addicted to illicit drugs, and he is appealing that decision.
Most Popular
Comments / 0