The federal appeals court has rejected Hunter Biden’s request to dismiss the federal gun indictment against him, setting the stage for a high-stakes criminal trial in Delaware. Despite Biden’s appeal, the appellate panel ruled that they did not have jurisdiction to review the case and therefore had to dismiss his appeal. Special counsel David Weiss, who brought the charges, claimed victory in this latest development.
The trial is scheduled to begin in early June, but there is still a possibility of reaching a plea deal or some other resolution before then. Hunter Biden’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, indicated that they may seek further review of the appeal by asking the full Philadelphia-based 3rd Circuit to rehear the case. Prosecutors allege that Biden illegally purchased and possessed a revolver in 2018 while using illicit drugs, resulting in three felony charges to which he has pleaded not guilty.
Despite arguments from Biden’s attorneys that the charges violate his Second Amendment rights and pose no threat to public safety, US District Judge Maryellen Noreika refused to dismiss the gun indictment. The 3rd Circuit panel also dismissed Biden’s appeal, stating that previous deals with prosecutors, such as a botched plea deal hearing last summer, do not preclude him from being tried and would not provide additional avenues for appeals.
In addition to the federal gun indictment, Hunter Biden is also facing a federal tax indictment, with the trial set to begin in late June in California. He has pleaded not guilty to all nine charges in that case, which involve millions of dollars made through overseas deals in Ukraine, China, and other countries. The story is ongoing and will be updated with further details as they emerge, with contributions to the report from CNN’s Holmes Lybrand.
