A California judge has threatened to impose sanctions on Hunter Biden’s legal team for allegedly lying in court papers.
According to the New York Post, California federal Judge Mark Scarsi accused Biden’s lawyers of making false statements regarding the timing of charges brought by special counsel David Weiss.
Judge Scarsi highlighted that Biden's defense attorney knowingly made false claims in court, suggesting that Weiss only mounted charges after receiving the special prosecution title.
Weiss had already initiated charges as the US Attorney in Delaware before his elevation. Scarsi said this procedural difference is significant.
The judge pointed out that special counsel Jack Smith’s appointment, which preceded charges against Donald Trump, differed from Weiss's situation. Smith was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland without Congressional approval, while Weiss had been approved by a Senate vote. These distinctions were crucial in understanding the context of the charges.
Hunter Biden’s lawyers filed a motion to dismiss his tax evasion case based on the dismissal of Trump’s charges. Judge Scarsi is considering monetary sanctions against Biden’s attorneys if they fail to respond in a timely and satisfactory manner. He also allowed Biden to withdraw or amend the motion papers containing the false statements.
Mark Geragos, another attorney for Biden, argued that the motion to dismiss is about jurisdictional authority, which he claims the judge did not address. Geragos contended that the US attorney in Delaware did not have the authority to bring charges in California. This argument will be presented more fully in court papers.
Hunter Biden is scheduled for trial in September on charges of tax evasion. He allegedly failed to pay taxes for three years on $1.4 million owed to the IRS. Additionally, Biden was convicted in Delaware in June for illegally owning a gun while using crack cocaine, a charge that could result in up to 25 years in prison.
Former President Donald Trump’s charges in Florida, accusing him of illegally hoarding confidential documents at his Mar-a-Lago home, were dismissed. The dismissal was based on the grounds that special counsel Jack Smith was illegally appointed to his post without Congress’s approval. Smith's office has since filed an appeal against this non-final decision.
Just three days after Trump’s charges were tossed, Biden’s lawyers, Abbe Lowell and Bartholomew Dalton, filed papers seeking to dismiss Biden’s tax evasion case on the same grounds. Judge Scarsi’s reaction to these filings has been strong, indicating a serious breach of legal conduct by Biden’s legal team.
Judge Scarsi emphasized the gravity of the false statements made by Biden’s defense team. He noted that the misrepresentations were not trivial and had a meaningful impact on the proceedings. Scarsi stated that the court has little tolerance for such a lack of candor from counsel.
Judge Scarsi warned that monetary sanctions could be imposed if Biden’s attorneys do not adequately address the court’s findings. This development underscores the high stakes involved in Hunter Biden’s legal battles, including the upcoming tax evasion trial and his previous conviction.
Judge Mark Scarsi may impose sanctions on Hunter Biden's legal team for purportedly providing false information in court documents. The judge pointed out that Biden’s defense inaccurately claimed that special counsel David Weiss had initiated charges only after his appointment as special counsel. However, Weiss had already filed these charges in his capacity as the US Attorney for Delaware. Judge Scarsi highlighted the importance of these procedural details and indicated that the legal team could face sanctions unless they amend their statements.
