Appeals court refuses to stop Hunter Biden's gun trial

A federal appeals court refused Thursday to dismiss the federal gun indictment against Hunter Biden, setting up a high-stakes criminal trial next month in Delaware. The president’s son had asked the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to dismiss the charges, overturning earlier rulings by the trial judge that the case should move forward. But the appeals panel instead rejected Biden’s appeal, handing another victory to special counsel David Weiss, who brought the charges. Weiss’s team successfully argued that the appeals court lacked jurisdiction to review the case and was therefore required by law to dismiss the appeal. “This appeal is denied because defendant has failed to demonstrate that the district court’s orders are appealable prior to final judgment,” the three-judge appeals panel wrote in a four-page decision. The trial is expected to begin in early June unless the parties reach a plea deal or other agreement to resolve the case, which is still possible. There remains one additional motion to dismiss the case — it concerns Biden’s Second Amendment rights — which the trial judge has yet to rule on. “In reviewing the panel’s decision, we believe that the issues at stake are too important and that further consideration of our request is appropriate,” Biden lawyer Abbe Lowell said in a statement, suggesting that he could ask the entire Philadelphia-based 3rd Circuit to rehear the appeal. Prosecutors say Biden illegally purchased and possessed a revolver in 2018, which violated federal law. because he was using illegal drugs at the time. He has pleaded not guilty to all three charges. His lawyers argued that the charges trampled on his Second Amendment rights and that “possessing an unloaded gun for 11 days did not constitute a threat to public safety.” nominee who was confirmed with broad bipartisan support in the Senate, refused to dismiss the gun indictment last month. She also presided over Hunter Biden’s botched plea deal hearing last summer. In rejecting his appeal Thursday, the 3rd Circuit panel said these types of deals with prosecutors “do not imply a right not to be tried” and would not give Hunter Biden a boost. ways to appeal. Biden also faces a federal tax indictment, and that trial is expected to begin in late June in California. He has pleaded not guilty to all nine counts in the case, which revolves around millions of dollars he made in Ukraine, China and other overseas deals.

A federal appeals court refused Thursday to dismiss the federal gun indictment against Hunter Biden, setting up a high-stakes criminal trial next month in Delaware.

The president’s son had asked the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to dismiss the charges, overturning the trial judge’s earlier rulings that the case should move forward. But the appeals panel instead rejected Biden’s appeal, handing another victory to special counsel David Weiss, who brought the charges.

Weiss’ team successfully argued that the appeals court lacked jurisdiction to review the case and was therefore required by law to reject Biden’s appeal.

“This appeal is denied because defendant has failed to demonstrate that the district court’s orders are appealable prior to final judgment,” the three-judge appeals panel wrote in a four-page decision.

The trial is expected to begin in early June, unless the parties reach a plea deal or other agreement to resolve the case, which is still possible. There remains one additional motion to dismiss the case — it concerns Biden’s Second Amendment rights — which the trial judge has yet to rule on.

“In reviewing the panel’s decision, we believe that the issues at stake are too great and that further consideration of our request is appropriate,” Biden lawyer Abbe Lowell said in a statement, suggesting that he could ask the entire Philadelphia-based 3rd Circuit to repeat. the call.

Prosecutors say Biden illegally purchased and possessed a revolver in 2018, which violated federal law because he was using illegal drugs at the time. He has pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

His lawyers argued that the charges violate his Second Amendment rights and that “possessing an unloaded gun for 11 days did not constitute a threat to public safety.”

U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, nominated by Trump and confirmed with broad bipartisan support in the Senate, refused to dismiss the gun indictment last month. She also presided over Hunter Biden’s botched plea deal hearing last summer.

In rejecting his appeal Thursday, the 3rd Circuit panel said these types of agreements with prosecutors “do not imply a right not to be tried” and would not give Hunter Biden additional avenues to appeal.

Biden also faces a federal tax indictment, and that trial is expected to begin in late June in California. He has pleaded not guilty to all nine counts in the case, which revolves around millions of dollars he made in Ukraine, China and other overseas deals.