Hunter Biden retains new lawyer ahead of trial on tax charges after plea talks stall
CNN
Hunter Biden has brought on a new, high-profile criminal defense lawyer to lead him through his tax evasion trial in the coming weeks, after discussions this summer with the special counsel who brought the case didn’t yield a plea deal.
Hunter Biden has brought on a new, high-profile criminal defense lawyer to lead him through his tax evasion trial in the coming weeks, after discussions this summer with the special counsel who brought the case didn’t yield a plea deal. A plea deal could still allow President Joe Biden’s son to avoid a second trial following his recent conviction on gun-related charges, according to two sources familiar with the talks. The two sides have not advanced the discussions to anything concrete, and it’s unclear whether they will reach an agreement before Biden is scheduled to go on trial for the tax-related charges, including three felonies, in California next month, the sources said. The situation has prompted Hunter Biden to add noted defense attorney Mark Geragos, who runs his firm out of Los Angeles, for the tax trial. Because of the financial crunch from his continuing legal bills and time limitations for his DC-based defense attorneys, sources said the team that tried Biden’s gun case in Delaware is taking a back seat to Geragos. The developments highlight how the legal and political situation around the president’s son has shifted over the past two months – and how it could still be enticing for Hunter Biden to avoid a second costly and embarrassing trial as his father prepares to exit the White House. Money has also become a factor. His primary benefactor, Hollywood super lawyer Kevin Morris, has run low on funds he can dedicate to Biden’s defense, one of the sources told CNN. Over the last year and a half, Biden’s legal team has filed multiple lawsuits against his detractors, but the bulk of his bills come from his criminal cases.
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