Fri. Jul 5th, 2024

Why Hunter Biden’s Tax Indictment Is an Embarrassment to the DOJ<!-- wp:html --><p>Reuters</p> <p>The latest <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/hunter-biden-smacked-with-new-federal-charges-in-los-angeles-reports">indictment of Hunter Biden</a> adds to an embarrassing series of missteps in this case that makes the Department of Justice look petty and unable to withstand political pressure. </p> <p>They look petty because Special Counsel David Weiss, who was given the new title of special counsel after already having worked on the case for five years, acts like he has hurt feelings following the spectacular <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/08/17/hunter-biden-plea-deal/">public crash and burn</a> of his attempt to plead out the case. </p> <p>The pettiness seems on view in a letter from Hunter Biden’s legal team documenting Weiss’ refusal to meet prior to the tax indictment being brought. Such a refusal violates a norm in white-collar criminal defense where defense counsel are afforded a last-ditch effort to avoid indictment. No legal strategic reason exists for Weiss to turn down such a meeting unless he was concerned about wasting time, which would be ironic for a man who has spent nearly half a decade on a case. What’s one more meeting?</p> <p><a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-hunter-bidens-tax-indictment-is-an-embarrassment-to-doj">Read more at The Daily Beast.</a></p><!-- /wp:html -->

Reuters

The latest indictment of Hunter Biden adds to an embarrassing series of missteps in this case that makes the Department of Justice look petty and unable to withstand political pressure.

They look petty because Special Counsel David Weiss, who was given the new title of special counsel after already having worked on the case for five years, acts like he has hurt feelings following the spectacular public crash and burn of his attempt to plead out the case.

The pettiness seems on view in a letter from Hunter Biden’s legal team documenting Weiss’ refusal to meet prior to the tax indictment being brought. Such a refusal violates a norm in white-collar criminal defense where defense counsel are afforded a last-ditch effort to avoid indictment. No legal strategic reason exists for Weiss to turn down such a meeting unless he was concerned about wasting time, which would be ironic for a man who has spent nearly half a decade on a case. What’s one more meeting?

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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