An initial appearance and a Rule 11 plea agreement for Hunter Biden are scheduled for U.S. District Court in Delaware on July 26 at 10 a.m.
The appearance by the president’s son will be before U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika.
Court papers this week indicated that Biden would plead guilty to misdemeanor charges of willfully not paying $1 million in federal income taxes and a felony charge of possession of a firearm while being addicted or using drugs.
A successful plea on the felony gun possession charge would result in Biden going into a diversion program for drug users that usually allows the individual to avoid prison time.
Rule 11 means an individual will accept the charges while not admitting guilt.
The tax charges could also lead to prison time for the president’s son, although first-time offenders often avoid that penalty.
The plea agreement has been condemned by Republicans, including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas). They claim that Democrats like Biden have received favorable treatment. Lawyers for Biden say the pleas are commonplace in such cases.
A decision on sentencing is up to Noreika, a federal judge who was appointed by President Donald Trump. Before becoming a federal judge Noreika had a 25-year career with the Wilmington corporate law firm of Morris Nichols Arsht and Tunnell.
Hunter Biden had been under investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s office in Delaware headed by a Trump appointee.
ORDE
