Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden’s son, risks imprisonment if he consumes any drugs or alcohol, as per the terms of his release endorsed by U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika.
Hunter Biden was in federal court in Delaware on Wednesday, with expectations of pleading guilty as part of a deal arranged between his lawyers and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The charges he faced included illegal possession of a handgun and failure to pay two years’ worth of federal taxes.
However, the proposed deal, which purportedly would have granted Biden enduring immunity from prosecution, broke down after Judge Noreika raised concerns about its applicability to potential future charges linked to the DOJ’s ongoing investigation. Consequently, Biden pleaded not guilty and must return to court while his attorneys negotiate a new plea deal with federal prosecutors.
The original plea deal fell apart after the judge questioned if it covered future potential charges of the Justice Department’s ongoing investigation. The prosecution reportedly said the deal did not include any alleged Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) violations.
As Breitbart News reported:
MSNBC reported the court took a ten-minute recess to determine if the two parties could quickly come to an agreement. When the deal got back on track, reports indicated it would “be more limited in scope,” only including specific charges related to tax and gun wronging. “The two sides have agreed that this deal does not shield him from potential future charges,” CNN reported. But the judge said she was not ready to accept the plea deal and asked both the prosecutor and Hunter Biden to submit additional briefs, according to reporters inside the courthouse.If Biden consumes alcohol or drugs, including marijuana, under his release terms, he could face contempt of court charges and possible imprisonment. Biden has been candid about his prior substance abuse problems, particularly his addiction to crack cocaine.
Notably, Biden arrived at the court with his lawyer, Kevin Morris, who was recently seen smoking from a bong in broad daylight during a visit from Biden.
Biden’s release terms require him to maintain or actively seek employment and to inform the court in writing of all international travel plans. He may also be subjected to random drug and alcohol screenings to ensure adherence to his release conditions.
“Testing may involve urine testing, the wearing of a sweat patch, a remote alcohol testing system, and/or any type of prohibited substance screening or testing,” stated the release conditions, signed by both Noreika and Biden. Biden might also be required to “participate in a program of inpatient or outpatient substance abuse therapy and counseling.”
Violations of these release conditions may lead to the immediate issuing of an arrest warrant, revocation of release, detention orders, forfeiture of any bond, and contempt of court charges, which could result in imprisonment, fines, or both.
