Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty on Tuesday morning in a Wilmington, Delaware federal court to three firearms charges. The four-page indictment was brought by Special Counsel David Weiss in mid September, filed in U.S. District Court in Delaware. The indictment states Hunter “knowingly made a false and fictitious written statement, intended and likely to deceive” a dealer in his effort to acquire a Colt Cobra revolver in October 2018.
The indictment also accused Hunter of certifying on a federal Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms form that “he was not an unlawful user of, and addicted to, any stimulant, narcotic drug, and any other controlled substance, when in fact, as he knew, that statement was false and fictitious.”
Fox News reports that Hunter Biden’s hearing in court was short, lasting only about 20 minutes. Additionally, Magistrate Judge Christopher Burke told prosecutors and defense attorneys they have 30 days to file their next motions in the federal case against Hunter Biden — setting a deadline for Nov. 3, 2023.
Hunter Biden’s defense attorney Abbe Lowell “made it known that the defense will file a motion to dismiss the charges because of a diversion agreement that the defense maintains is still in effect” reports Fox News. “The diversion agreement was included as part of the original plea deal that collapsed in July. Biden was set to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax counts of willful failure to pay federal income tax, which would allow him to avoid jail time on a felony gun charge. That deal fell apart during his last court appearance. The president’s son, in July, was then forced to plead not guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and one felony gun charge when the deal collapsed in court.”
Lowell also said the motion to dismiss would include a debate about the constitutionality about statutes that have been discussed, and added that he will be making a request for an evidentiary hearing.
