- Judge Mark Scarsi determined the three misdemeanor charges and six misdemeanor tax evasion charges Monday evening
- Hunter’s attorneys returned to federal court in Los Angeles last week to urge the judge to consider dismissing the nine tax charges against Hunter
Hunter Biden’s attorneys vowed to continue fighting the “abnormal” way they say a special prosecutor is handling the case against him after a judge declined to dismiss his tax charges.
Judge Mark Scarsi ruled Monday night that the three misdemeanor charges and six tax evasion charges could move forward. Filing a false return and failing to pay more than $1 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019 could not be considered political, as Hunter’s attorneys had argued.
“We strongly disagree with the Court’s decision and will continue to vigorously pursue Mr. Biden’s criticism of the anomalous manner in which the Special Counsel handled this investigation and charged this case,” Biden attorney Abbe Lowell said Tuesday in a statement to Fox News.
“We strongly disagree with the Court’s decision and will continue to vigorously pursue Mr. Biden’s criticism of the anomalous manner in which the Special Counsel handled this investigation and charged this case,” said Biden attorney Abbe Lowell said in a statement Tuesday.
“The motion is notable in that it does not include any deposition, evidence or request for judicial notice,” Scarsi, the Trump appointee, said in a statement. wrote. “Instead, Defendant quotes portions of various internet news sources, social media posts, and legal blogs. However, these quotes do not constitute evidence.”
Scarsi said the sources contained “multiple levels of hearsay” and failed to present “a reasonable inference, let alone clear evidence, of discriminatory effect and purpose.”
The charges stem from what federal prosecutors say was a four-year scheme to skip paying the $1.4 million he owed to the IRS and instead use the money to pursue an “extravagant lifestyle.” funding, which he said also included drugs and alcohol.
The costs cover the tax years 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Hunter Biden is preparing for another high-profile courtroom drama on Wednesday, when his lawyers will ask a judge to dismiss charges against him for failing to pay more than $1 million in taxes.
His lawyers have made efforts to dismiss some or all of the charges and Trump-appointed U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi will decide the fate of the case.
The charges stem from what federal prosecutors say was a four-year scheme to avoid paying the $1.4 million he owed the Internal Revenue Service and instead use the money to fund an “extravagant lifestyle” , which he said also included drugs and alcohol.
The costs cover the tax years 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Meanwhile, Hunter Biden, 53, has also been charged in Delaware with lying in October 2018 on a federal gun purchaser form when he swore he was not using or addicted to illegal drugs. He was addicted to crack cocaine at the time. He is also accused of illegally possessing the gun and has pleaded not guilty in that case.
Federal prosecutors say Hunter repeatedly failed to pay his taxes on time, missed deadlines to pay debts owed to the IRS and criminally evaded taxes by cooking his books and filing false returns.
The Justice Department says Hunter faces up to 17 years in prison on the tax charge and 25 years on the gun charge if convicted, in dual cases that could have a devastating impact on his father’s presidential campaign.
Hunter is accused of evading taxes on income he received from China and Ukraine and providing fodder to Republicans who have accused him of corruptly profiting from foreign business transactions through his last name.