Hunter Biden, the son of U.S. President Joe Biden, has withdrawn his request for a new federal trial on gun charges after prosecutors said the request was based on a “ridiculous story” and a lack of understanding of the appeals process.
Hunter Biden has become the first child of a sitting US president to be convicted of a crime, after a jury found him guilty on three charges related to lying about illegal drug use when he purchased a gun in 2018.
Lawyers for the president’s son had requested a new trial last month, arguing that the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia had not given the court formal approval, known as a writ, to proceed after rejecting his appeals.
Federal prosecutors said in a court filing Monday that Hunter Biden had no basis for his argument, citing that the denial of his appeal was clearly marked with “a certified order issued in lieu of warrant” under the clerk’s signature.
“Defendant’s motion is without merit and is based on his apparent lack of understanding of appellate practice and failure to read the Third Circuit’s orders,” the court document filed by attorneys for Special Counsel David Weiss reads.
Prosecutors described Hunter Biden’s arguments about his lack of legal approval to go to trial as a “ridiculous tale of the mystery of the missing warrants.”
Hunter Biden’s lawyers said they withdrew their request for a new trial after the special counsel explained the Third Circuit’s procedure.
Hunter Biden has denied any wrongdoing and his lawyers have said he will appeal his conviction. He will be sentenced later this year and could face up to 25 years in prison, although legal experts say he may not even face prison time because he has no criminal record.
He still faces trial on federal tax charges in September.
Source: Terra
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