OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Reports emerged Tuesday that the legal team representing Hunter Biden is fighting it out with Justice Department prosecutors attempting to gain the concession of having his initial court proceedings conducted by video conference instead of requiring him to appear in person.
According to Fox News, U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher J. Burke ordered Biden’s attorneys to justify this request by no later than Tuesday. Federal prosecutors have opposed the request the Judge wrote.
Senior legal correspondent at The Federalist Margot Cleveland posted an excerpt of the order to X, formerly Twitter, she wrote, “This order in Hunter Biden case is hilarious…No, Mr. President’s Son, you can’t just call and we’ll do what you want, …file a motion like everyone else. (Burke is the Magistrate Judge and they typically handle initial appearances.) Hunter can have the Trump treatment,” the implication being that Hunter’s legal team did not present the motion in writing but rather, verbally by phone.
The order in full was posted to the social network by Kaelan Deese of the Washington Examiner who explained, “Judge overseeing Hunter Biden gun arraignment asks defense to file response by Sept. 19 on why his initial appearance should be held via video conference. Prosecutors who it to happen in-person ordered to respond by Sept. 20. Order comes from Judge Burke.”
NEW: Judge overseeing Hunter Biden gun arraignment asks defense to file response by Sept. 19 on why his initial appearance should be held via video conference.
Prosecutors who it to happen in-person ordered to respond by Sept. 20.
Order comes from Judge Burke. pic.twitter.com/HkCZp9kgkS
— Kaelan Deese (@KaelanDC) September 18, 2023
Burke wrote in full, “The Court, understanding that Defendant seeks to have the initial appearance on the Indictjent in this matter held via video conference, and understanding that the government opposes that request, hereby ORDERS as follows: (1) By no later than September 19, 2023, Defendant shall make any such request to the court in writing by filing a one-page motion to that effect, along with an accompanying letter brief not to exceed two single-spaced pages.; and (2) By no later than September 20, 2023, the Government may file an answering letter brief of no more than two single-spaced pages.”
With less than 24 hours to respond it is entirely possible that Biden’s legal team may drop the request, or be unable to provide an explanation to Judge Burke’s satisfaction.
Given that Hunter is presently suing the IRS after two whistleblowers Agents Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, allegedly “targeted and sought to embarrass” him, it’s also likely that the Biden legal team will suggest that an in-person court appearance would cause the President’s son and by extension, President Joe Biden himself embarrassment.
That said: the charges Hunter faces are no light matter, he could stand to serve up to 25 years in Federal prison if convicted of the federal firearm charges he’s been indicted for including false statement in the purchase of a firearm which by itself carries a 10-year maximum sentence, a fine of up to $250,000 and three-years supervised release.
He’s also indicted for a count of false statements related to information required to be kept by a federal firearms licensed dealer which carries up to five years in prison with another quarter million dollars in fines and three years supervised release.
As well as possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance which adds another ten years, up to $250k, and three years of supervised release according to the indictment.
Many surrounding the President, such as former Press Secretary turned MSNBC host Jen Psaki have worked to use the charges against Hunter to engender sympathy for Joe Biden in the public, with Psaki telling viewers, “My bet is right now, this is a heartbroken president, in the White House, who is worried about his son, and we’re all watching to see kind of what happens with this.”
“I mean, first and foremost, the politics of this are a little hard to predict, but right now you have the president’s son, somebody he loves deeply, somebody who has very publicly struggled with drug addiction, now facing these charges,” Psaki told “Morning Joe,” according to The Hill.
