Hunter Biden’s Legal Team Pushes to Dismiss Outdated Gun Charge: What Does it Mean for the Case?

WASHINGTON >> Prosecutors who filed firearms charges against Hunter Biden moved Wednesday to formally dismiss a gun count that had been part of a collapsed plea deal.

The procedural step removes a charge alleging he broke a law against drug users having guns when he bought a gun in 2018, during a period he has acknowledged struggling with addiction.

The president’s son is now facing a three-count indictment focused on the same purchase that includes both gun possession and false statement charges. No new tax counts have yet been filed by special counsel David Weiss, who is overseeing the case.

Hunter Biden had been expected to avoid prosecution on the gun charge and plead guilty to misdemeanor tax counts in an agreement with prosecutors. But the deal collapsed after a judge raised questions about it in a July hearing, and the new indictment was filed weeks later.

Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to the charges Tuesday as the case moves toward a potential trial with the 2024 election looming.

Prosecutors have moved to dismiss a firearms charge against Hunter Biden that was part of a collapsed plea deal. The charge accused him of violating a law prohibiting drug users from owning guns when he purchased one in 2018, during a period in which he openly struggled with addiction.

Instead, Hunter Biden now faces a three-count indictment related to the same purchase, including charges of gun possession and making false statements. The special counsel overseeing the case, David Weiss, has not filed any new tax charges.

Initially, Hunter Biden was expected to avoid prosecution for the gun charge and reach a plea deal on misdemeanor tax charges. However, the deal fell apart after a judge raised concerns in a July hearing, leading to the filing of the new indictment weeks later.

On Tuesday, Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to the charges as the case heads towards a potential trial, coinciding with the 2024 election.