July 26, 2023

"U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika... asked if there were more serious charges that could still be brought and the prosecutors and Hunter Biden’s lawyer both said there were not."

"Noreika later asked if the investigation was ongoing, to which [U.S. Attorney David] Weiss responded that it was, but said he could not share any further details.... "

From "Hunter Biden guilty plea in jeopardy after disagreement over gun charge/Prosecutors told the judge no more charges are expected against the president's son" (NBC News).

ADDED: Here's how the NYT puts it:
[T]he judge...  questioned whether [the proposed deal] meant that Mr. Biden would be immune from prosecution for other possible crimes — including violations related to representing foreign governments — in perpetuity. When a top prosecutor in the case said it would not, Chris Clark, Mr. Biden’s lead lawyer, responded by saying the agreement was “null and void.” 
Mr. Clark then asked for a recess to try to hash out a compromise to salvage the deal, and the parties began furiously negotiating....

AND: The NYT and NBC don't seem to be saying this same thing!

PLUS: Here's what The Washington Post put up 3 minutes ago:

The plea deal for Hunter Biden was on the brink of falling apart Wednesday, when the two sides could not agree on whether admitting to two tax crimes would immunize the president’s son from possible additional charges.

U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika pressed federal prosecutors and Biden’s lawyers to come to some “meeting of the minds.” But that appeared unlikely, as the two sides said they did not see eye to eye about the precise terms of their own plea agreement.

At one point in the hearing, Biden’s lawyer declared there was no deal — meaning that a long-running criminal investigation that Republicans have used to accuse both the president and his son of corruption might lead to a trial after all.

“As far as I’m concerned, the plea agreement is null and void,” Biden lawyer Chris Clark said.

MORE: I'm impressed with way the judge homed in on the problem. I hadn't seen anyone put it like that in the commentary before the hearing, but it seems perfectly clear now. 

Here's how The Washington Post put it, in a new article:

A federal judge on Wednesday delayed accepting a plea deal for President Biden’s son Hunter, saying the terms as written by prosecutors and defense lawyers may not be constitutional, but also signaling the agreement could be approved in the future.

The deal that had been struck in June began to unravel near the start of the three-hour hearing. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika asked a series of questions that revealed a disagreement between federal prosecutors and Biden’s lawyers over whether the agreement — in which he would plead guilty to two tax misdemeanors and likely avoid jail time — would protect him from the possibility of additional criminal charges....

The sides had proposed that Biden would plead guilty to the tax charges in a fairly standard agreement that requires the judge’s approval. Separately, they crafted a “diversion agreement” with Biden’s attorneys in which the president’s son would admit to wrongdoing in the gun case and agree to certain conditions, including not purchasing a firearm and not using drugs, to avoid actually being charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.

That type of agreement is not typically approved by a judge. But this particular diversion agreement referenced the proposed plea deal and prosecutors submitted it to the judge, creating a bifurcated deal in which the assurances Biden wanted — that he will not be pursued for other tax or foreign lobbying charges — were not part of the tax case, but part of the gun diversion agreement, lawyers said in court.

A provision of the gun diversion agreement said that if Biden failed to remain drug free and meet other conditions for the next two years, the judge would determine whether he had broken the terms of the deal and tell prosecutors they could revive the gun charge against him.

But Noreika questioned whether she could lawfully do that, given that she is not a party to the diversion agreement and judges generally are not responsible for pursuing criminal charges....

At the start of Wednesday’s hearing, Biden said he was prepared to enter the plea. But then Noreika asked whether he would still do so if it was possible additional charges might be filed against him in the future.

When Biden answered no, the two sides were suddenly at odds.

“As far as I’m concerned, the plea agreement is null and void,” Biden lawyer Chris Clark told the judge at one point.

A side discussion between the prosecutors and defense lawyers revealed the extent of the disagreement.

“I don’t know what you’re trying to accomplish by blowing this up,” Clark told prosecutors. One of those prosecutors, Leo Wise, pointed to papers related to the case and said he was bound by the terms in them.

Clark shot back: “Then we misunderstood, we’re ripping it up.”

Here's how the NYT summed up what happened today: 

During a three-hour hearing in Federal District Court in Wilmington, Del., Judge Noreika asked the two sides to make changes to the deal that would clarify her role and insert language that limits the scope of immunity from prosecution it would grant to Mr. Biden for past business dealings that came under scrutiny by investigators....

The hearing appeared to be going smoothly before Judge Noreika questioned whether the agreement meant that Mr. Biden would be immune from prosecution for other possible crimes — including violations related to representing foreign governments — in perpetuity. When a top prosecutor in the case said it would not, Chris Clark, Mr. Biden’s lead lawyer, initially hesitated and then said the government’s position would make the agreement “null and void.”

Mr. Clark then asked for a recess to try to hash out a compromise to salvage the deal, and the parties began furiously negotiating. After a brief halt to the proceedings, Judge Noreika said she would delay her ruling....

Was the unclarity deliberate?  

86 comments:

hombre said...

Suspicions confirmed!!

RideSpaceMountain said...

"When a top prosecutor in the case said it would not, Chris Clark, Mr. Biden’s lead lawyer, responded by saying the agreement was “null and void.”

Everything you need to know. Right there.

hombre said...

"...Mr. Biden would be immune from prosecution for other possible crimes — including violations related to representing foreign governments — in perpetuity."

Smart money says the prosecutors ARE that corrupt. They just didn't expect to be asked to confirm it in open court. The corrupt defense attorneys - that is to say "defense attorneys" - were evidently taken by surprise.

BTW, no ethical prosecutor would make such a deal. Savvy judge. Obviously not a Democrat appointee.

Humperdink said...

Hunter will not spend one minute in the pokey. I know it, the world knows it, why the charade?

MikeR said...

Trouble here is that both sides are on the same side. They just have a problem because everyone is watching.

Jupiter said...

And then there's this.

Yancey Ward said...

The prosecutors suddenly got cold feet it appears. They were the ones Garland etal. were going to leave holding the bag of dogshit. I think the defense attorneys are correct- there was a plea agreement that granted broad immunity on everything else, but congressional investigations have put enough sunlight on this corrupt deal that the prosecutors suddenly decided they weren't going to be the ones on the hook for defending it and agreeing to it. I suspect the DoJ at the higher levels are going to have to step forward into the sunlight and make the agreement themselves; so do they have the courage to put their own names to this shit deal rather than trying to delegate it all to the underlings?

Leland said...

CNN is cross posting on Twitter/X initial claims the deal was dead and now the deal is back on because Biden's lawyers agreed: "DOJ could later charge Biden on unrelated issues". How gracious of them to agree to what is common law. Oddly though, it was part of the original plea deal that he couldn't be charged on anything else Weiss uncovered in his "ongoing investigation". In other words, once the plea agreement was consummated, Weiss could then continue to whitewash all of Hunter Biden's other crimes by simply discovering them and then abiding by the plea deal. I never realized just how sweet the plea deal actually was.

Mr Wibble said...

The cynic in me suspects that they were trying to pull a fast one: they knew that giving Hunter immunity for the FARA stuff wouldn't fly with either the judge, or the public, so the plan was to muddle that aspect and hope that the judge wouldn't delve too deep into the agreement. Once it was signed and done, the DoJ would wait about six months and then quietly drop all remaining investigations.

Yancey Ward said...

Or, alternatively, Weiss is right now assuring Clark that what he said in open court was just a lie and that the immunity deal stands (nudge-nudge, wink-wink) but can no longer be publicly avowed.

Dave Begley said...

Chris Clark is an idiot. He responded to my email and Power Line did a post about it.

AZ Bob said...

The DOJ was caught trying to pull a fast one. Settlement of a case involving a myriad of issues is a sure way to preclude subsequent prosecution. See the doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppel.

gilbar said...

meant that Mr. Biden would be immune from prosecution for other possible crimes — including violations related to representing foreign governments — in perpetuity

He's a BIDEN, isn't he?
He's a Democrat isn't he?
There is Only ONE TYPE of Justice.. The Justice that lets democrats Skate

tim in vermont said...

Dang! It worked for Hunter and Joe's client at Burisma!

gilbar said...

Remember!
As John Adams said.. "We live in a country a law, not men".. And The Law states: The Democrat skates

next time you wonder if you are honor bound to obey the law.. Remember what The Law states

Mark said...

“As far as I’m concerned, the plea agreement is null and void,” Biden lawyer Chris Clark said.

That's the time for the judge to rule, "So be it," bang the gavel and get up and leave the bench.

Aras said...

There may have been unethical behavior by the Biden lawyers: https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2023/07/misunderstanding-in-wilmington.php

They are in denial mode.

mccullough said...

The Best & The Brightest.

Can’t agree on what the meaning of “is” is.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

I totally trust the leftwing press. LOL.

Roger Sweeny said...

Wouldn't it be funny to have a Hunter Biden trial and a Donald Trump trial going on simultaneously all through the next election season?

In a sick sort of way.

Jersey Fled said...

Something funny going on here. Maybe whoever is running the country figured that they couldn’t get away with the deal that was on the table. Take it out of the judge’s hands and come back later with something that might get a new stooge elected in 2024.

jim5301 said...

Totally bizarre this happens in such a high-profile case. The plea agreement should not be ambiguous on this key issue. Embarrassing for DOJ.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

Beautiful! What new fig leaf can the NYT concoct to cover for the Biden crime family!

Original Mike said...

From FoxNews: "The judge put the court in recess and asked that federal prosecutors and Biden's legal team discuss the plea deal, telling the court that they did not appear to be in agreement on the terms."

Aren't federal prosecutors and Biden's legal team on the same team? Them against us?

Yancey Ward said...

Of course, I never understood the desire to plea to this from Hunter's point of view- no jury in Delaware was ever going to convict on these charges- the prosecutors could literally have a video of Hunter Biden saying he did all of these things and a jury there would still acquit. The only rationale for Hunter Biden to not contest this in court was that the DoJ and his father needed it to look like justice was being done.

tim in vermont said...

This story has evolved on X at warp speed. First it was done, then it fell apart, then it was rescued by the parties, now it's dead, killed by the judge. That's as of 2:01 pm.

gspencer said...

Joe scolds Hunter's legal team,

https://64.media.tumblr.com/a9dcaf3b157cc4ffe1923a8cca082b74/tumblr_inline_nshv16vC6v1rhuj6j_400.gifv

Rabel said...

Isn't it clear that the DOJ and the defense, working together, tried to slip a "get out of jail free forever" card into the agreement, and that the judge called them on it only after outside parties raised the issue?

Milo Minderbinder said...

Weiss if or when he appears before Congress (please thank our generous DOJ) will respond to every question thusly, "I cannot comment on any matter under active investigation." And this investigation will remain "active" at least through the 2024 election. And Weiss' office will not respond to any House requests for documents. The strategy is postpone until after the election, after democrats retake the House and win the presidency, at which time a new plea deal is negotiated or Hunter is pardoned, or both. Congress' only remaining source to corroborate the Biden family's criminal activities become Devon Archer....

Next? Hunter Biden becomes a very non-public person. And Devon Archer goes on "suicide" watch....

Rabel said...

Hunter has now pleaded not guilty and thus has ended the plea deal as we know it.

Richard Dolan said...

What a clown show. They wanted to sweep the whole sorry mess under the rug, and ended up achieving the opposite. Since the deal does not foreclose other charges, it won't be long before the pressure to appoint a special prosecutor becomes overwhelming. Just a matter of how much further damage AG Garland is willing to let DOJ suffer before he finally bows to the pressure.

Brian said...

[T]he judge... questioned whether [the proposed deal] meant that Mr. Biden would be immune from prosecution for other possible crimes — including violations related to representing foreign governments — in perpetuity.

Did Biden think he had a get out of jail forever free card through this plea deal?

Rabel said...

“Hunter Biden received taxable income in excess of $1,500,000 annually in calendar years 2017 and 2018. Despite owing in excess of $100,000 in federal income taxes each year, he did not pay the income tax due for either year.”

Any tax accountant who can make hookers and crack deductible is A-OK in my book.

Uh-oh! That's a 6.66 percent rate. Call the Pope!

Readering said...

An issue in federal criminal law is that defendants generally don't get the benefit of Brady discovery when negotiating a plea. Now Biden will get that Brady discovery.

Drago said...

My God!!! The republicans will be seizing and pouncing and cinching and squeezing and pinching and plucking!!!

How many LLR-democraticals will it take to run cover for the Biden's on this one?

I fully expect the National Review to be johnny-on-the-spot with another Full Editorial condemnation of Trump for the next edition of their Google/Facebook/Lefty billionaire funded pamphlet.

Bob Boyd said...

The Biden family watches the proceedings on a live feed at the White House:

Biden lawyer Chris Clark speaking on the screen: “As far as I’m concerned, the plea agreement is null and void”

Hunter: "Well fuck..."

Joe: "But...my son cured cancer. Doesn't that mean anything?"

Secret Service agent outside the door in the hall "Ow. Goddammit! Ooowww! Help!"

Jill: "Uh oh. Where's Commander?"

Ashley: "This whole thing makes me feel like I need a shower."

Joe: "Are you going to take a shower?

RideSpaceMountain said...

JESSICA BENGELS NEEDS TO BE DISBARRED. Preferably with a tire iron.

PJ said...

”. . . that Republicans have used . . .”

Is that like a pounce, or more of a seize?

Free Manure While You Wait! said...

Hunter Biden could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and his father wouldn't lose any voters, OK?

Michael K said...

Now I have read that the sweet heart deal is back on.

tim in vermont said...

So now the judge has imposed conditions. No alcohol --- at all, no drugs, drug testing. Must notify judge of any travel plans. No gun possession, ...

Hee hee hee.

https://twitter.com/julie_kelly2/status/1684273250329665536

cassandra lite said...

Maybe I missed the details of the plea agreement earlier, but I noticed today that he was agreeing to (a) not own a gun and (b) remain drug-free for two years."

The (b) would seem to plausibly explain why the Secret Service decided not to find the coke owner.

tim in vermont said...

Incidentally, the "diversion" was illegal under California law, since he committed a felony with the firearm that he purchased by lying on the application form.

Big Mike said...

Apparently the deal is over and done. Hunter entered a plea of not guilty.

phantommut said...

Did Biden think he had a get out of jail forever free card through this plea deal?

Magic 8 Ball says: "Signs point to yes."

(Speaking of signs, everyone, especially Hunter, knows he needed that because everyone, especially Hunter, understands there's more dirt out there waiting to be found.)

Owen said...

Mike R: "...Trouble here is that both sides are on the same side. They just have a problem because everyone is watching."

Bingo. I wouldn't say they have a conscience; nor a sense of shame; but just some crude instinct for professional self-preservation. If they embarrass themselves, they by implication embarrass their colleagues and friends and those who tolerate or even aspire to their company, and therefore they fear that they will be ostracized by the pond scum whom they call their peers.

Don't expect anything uplifting here, it was just like turning over a rock and discovering a pullulating mass of carrion beetles.

Original Mike said...

Blogger Readering said..."An issue in federal criminal law is that defendants generally don't get the benefit of Brady discovery when negotiating a plea. Now Biden will get that Brady discovery."

I can't imagine what there is for Biden to discover. Do you think he was framed?

Breezy said...

This is hysterical!!
Thank you, Speaker McCarthy!!

Kevin said...

During the hearing, Hunter Biden sat with his attorneys and quietly watched as the proceedings unraveled. He offered a glimpse into his recovery efforts, telling the judge he had been in treatment at least six times in the past two decades for his drug and alcohol addiction. The last time he used drugs or alcohol was June 2019, he said.

Now we know how badly a "Hunter Brought Cocaine Into the White House" story would have fouled up the Biden's plans.

Anyone who has pictures of Hunter drinking or using drugs in the last four years can now submit them to undermine his testimony.

Drago said...

Readering: "An issue in federal criminal law is that defendants generally don't get the benefit of Brady discovery when negotiating a plea. Now Biden will get that Brady discovery."

LOL

Yeah, the DOJ/FBI are hiding exculpatory evidence from poor Hunter!

Sure they are.

The only thing missing from the corrupt plea deal was the US Govt handing over a private jet to Hunter as a parting gift.

Drago said...

RideSpaceMountain: "JESSICA BENGELS NEEDS TO BE DISBARRED. Preferably with a tire iron."

I have a feeling that clerk is shortly going to experience the first of many, many IRS audits.

Drago said...

Brian: "Did Biden think he had a get out of jail forever free card through this plea deal?"

That question was answered by Biden's lawyer: an emphatic "yes".

wildswan said...

The Republican pounce is joined by the Democratic skate. After the show, a boxed lunch - a ham sandwich and a banana

Drago said...

jim5301: "Totally bizarre this happens in such a high-profile case. The plea agreement should not be ambiguous on this key issue. Embarrassing for DOJ."

LOL

The lefties are playing dumb again.

Spiros said...

The judge asked what would happen in the event of a future prosecution if Hunter Biden contended that such a prosecution was barred by the plea agreement. So what happened? The prosecutors and the defense attorneys didn't discuss disposing of all possible federal charges with this plea agreement? Seems hard to believe.

Maybe, instead, both parties left the agreement ambiguous on purpose and just agreed to disagree on the issue of future prosecutions? In the future, Hunter would argue that other governmental authorities were barred from prosecuting him by reason of this agreement. And that would be enough for 50% of judges and the other 50% wouldn't want the headaches...

In any event, I think Judge Noreika got it right. This issue needs to be hashed out now...

Drago said...

Humperdink: "Hunter will not spend one minute in the pokey. I know it, the world knows it, why the charade?"

Because the now hopelessly and irretrievably corrupt DOJ lawyers and their democratical allied govt/private practice revolving door lawyer pals had a bright light shone upon them and by golly they need to save their phoney baloney jobs.....

...and I didn't get a harrumph out of that guy....

Steve said...

Funny that Jessica Bengels' most recent LinkedIn post is applauding and article entitled "You Are Not an Imposter, You Belong Here!"

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/you-imposter-belong-here-kim-barrett-mba-mps

Original Mike said...

Link

"4. Think about this. DOJ was about to sanction a plea deal where Hunter would get misdemeanor probation on serious tax charges plus pretrial diversion (no time served or criminal record) on the felony gun charge. Hunter would also get complete immunity on all other charges. And he would not have to cooperate with the government’s ongoing investigation. Totally disgraceful. Merrick Garland and David Weiss should be ashamed. And where is Lisa Monaco? Why hasn't she been called to testify?". (emphasis added)

Is that really where this was going? Holy crap. It's good to be the king. Or the king's son.

cassandra lite said...

Readering said...
"An issue in federal criminal law is that defendants generally don't get the benefit of Brady discovery when negotiating a plea. Now Biden will get that Brady discovery."

Brady? What Brady? The only Brady here was prosecutors looking the other way at all the incriminating evidence.

wendybar said...

Who pays for the MOTORCADE he arrived with?? WHY does a "private citizen" need a motorcade??

Another old lawyer said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
wildswan said...

Hunter is required to not use drugs as a condition of release and to actively seek employment. Sounds as if the Judge got mad at the way the Biden team tried to run over her. And you know the Biden White House isn't, how shall I say, isn't impressive. It's not a place you want to sort of help out because its inhabitants work night and day for us. The trans activists stripping on the lawn, the dog repeatedly biting the Secret Service agents, and the President tripping over his feet and his words. Not a good look. But the worst is Hunter - Hunter wandering about the world, picking up $50,000 here, $5,000,000 there; dropping a laptop filled with evidence and porn in one place; dropping a bag of cocaine in another place. I guess he thought a Judge would find it equally easy to wander through the law and drop all charges against him.

Buckwheathikes said...

"The plea agreement should not be ambiguous on this key issue. Embarrassing for DOJ. "

The defense is trying to do 2 opposing things: they want a plea deal to end all cases against all Bidens. If the case ends, there's no more investigation. Can't be an investigation if there's no case left.

They also want to claim in Congress that there is an on-going investigation, so the DOJ cannot be forced to answer questions.

The judge just blew all that up.

gilbar said...

Milo Minderbinder said...
..The strategy is postpone until after the election, after democrats retake the House and win the presidency, at which time a new plea deal is negotiated

assuming, for the sake of argument; that Somehow, the republicans win larger than the margin of fraud..
Does ANY ONE not think the then strategy will be a Hunter pardon in late Jan 2025?.

Democrats DON'T Go To Jail.. ONLY Republicans Go To Jail

BlackjohnX said...

Bob Boyd: You get 5 stars for that comment!

Skeptical Voter said...

I think Team Biden's fooling around with the court clerk and pretending to be an amicus withdrawing a filing is the sort of dirty trick that will get a judge's ire up. And then she looks at the agreement and smells a great big rat and asks the question,
Is this sometime felon getting a permanent get out of jail free card?" The Gubmint says no. Team Biden hears that and saes the deal is null and void. Caught with their hand in the cookei jar indeed. Sometimes you can slip a curve ball by a somnolent judge. Didn't happen today.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

The media are running in circles trying to spin it. Hard to tell what is accurate.

Sound like Team Crook Hunter Biden want to be off the hook for all other crimes and the judge has not been bribed or threatened into submission yet.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

Rabel said..

"Isn't it clear that the DOJ and the defense, working together, tried to slip a "get out of jail free forever" card into the agreement, and that the judge called them on it only after outside parties raised the issue?"

That's my read, as well.

Amadeus 48 said...

This is just a variation on the old sue and settle game that the federal agencies and the DOJ love to play with advocacy groups. These DC lawyers cut their teeth making friendly settlements with huge, unspecified implications. Res judicata as an offensive weapon.

Original Mike said...

This is useful: news/timeline-of-alleged-biden-family-corruption

I'm kind of fond of this one, from early on: "April 23, 2014: Rakishev’s Singaporean company wired $142,300 through his Latvian company to a Rosemont entity. Soon after, that entity wired $142,300 to a car dealership in New Jersey for a new sports car for Hunter Biden."

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

Drago - give it a rest. you are so tired.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

Garland is a complete corrupt disgrace.

Josephbleau said...

The schedule of the Hunter Plea was probably driven by the summer dog days where no one is paying attention to politics. But we are not all at summer in the Hamptons, and the deplorables are noticing the setup.

Ann Althouse said...

Don't put your whole comment in boldface. I had to delete that. Feel free to republish in normal typeface.

Drago said...

Hunter Biden's tax payer funded Hooker: "Drago - give it a rest. you are so tired."

So much projection.

So much...tired...projection.

But your efforts at policing the blog are no doubt noticed...even if not exactly necessary nor appreciated!

Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...

"They also want to claim in Congress that there is an on-going investigation, so the DOJ cannot be forced to answer questions."

I thought that at first too but I'm guessing that whoever is before congress will refuse and say they can't comment no matter the outcome. Oh sure, there will be a lot of immediate huffing and puffing and YouTube videos about how the witness was "destroyed" but in the end, the DOJ will get away with it and no one will pay a price. Nobody in the US government bureaucracy ever pays a price as long as they're doing the DNC's work.

Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...

"They also want to claim in Congress that there is an on-going investigation, so the DOJ cannot be forced to answer questions."

I thought that at first too but I'm guessing that whoever is before congress will refuse and say they can't comment no matter the outcome. Oh sure, there will be a lot of immediate huffing and puffing and YouTube videos about how the witness was "destroyed" but in the end, the DOJ will get away with it and no one will pay a price. Nobody in the US government bureaucracy ever pays a price as long as they're doing the DNC's work.

Yancey Ward said...

"jim5301: "Totally bizarre this happens in such a high-profile case. The plea agreement should not be ambiguous on this key issue. Embarrassing for DOJ."

LOL

The lefties are playing dumb again."


In Jim53IQ's case, it isn't an act.

Here is how I rate our lefties on the Acting Dumb/Authentically Dumb:

Inga- Authentically Dumb
Left Bank- Acting Dumb
Freder- Authentically Dumb
Jim53IQ- Authentically Dumb
Readering- Acting Dumb
Howard (who has apparently died)- Acting Dumb
Mutaman- Authentically Dumb
Daniel12- Authentically Dumb
HPuddingHead- Authentically Dumb.

Readering said...

Jessica Bengels of Latham, in response to a court order, submitted a declaration under penalty of perjury refuting the allegation that she misrepresented to a court clerk which firm she worked for. Among other things she called from a Latham phone with caller id. This incident will be chalked up to misunderstanding and go nowhere.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

I'm not policing anything - you jackass. Just pointing out you are a boring Trump-obsessed weenie.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

"This just in: The judge won't accept the proposed plea deal at least for now.
Some thoughts: Now we know why DOJ didn’t show us the plea agreement terms. What didn't they want us to know ahead of time? A) a global immunity deal for Hunter; B) A binding plea (that is, the judge must accept the specific terms if she accepts the agreement); C) Misdemeanor probation; D) Other unusual plea terms.
1. A global immunity deal for Hunter while the overall investigation is “ongoing”, is stunning—a super-sweetheart deal.
2. A binding plea is extremely unusual in the vast majority of federal jurisdictions. It means for example, that if the agreement calls for probation the judge must give Hunter probation. It is binding.
3. That the prosecution and defense would disagree about the terms of the agreement in open court is a joke. Ambiguous terms in a plea agreements are construed against the government! There should be no room for disagreement on the key terms of the agreement. So, this was either astounding incompetence or corruption on DOJ’s part. I think it is corruption. This looks like a wink and a nod deal (as @shipwreckedcrew
has noted) where DOJ would have plausible deniability if the judge asked no questions and accepted the deal. The scope of immunity is the most important feature of a plea deal. It is inconceivable that the prosecutors were incompetent here. Leo Wise has an excellent reputation for competence.
4. Think about this. DOJ was about to sanction a plea deal where Hunter would get misdemeanor probation on serious tax charges plus pretrial diversion (no time served or criminal record) on the felony gun charge. Hunter would also get complete immunity on all other charges. And he would not have to cooperate with the government’s ongoing investigation. Totally disgraceful. Merrick Garland and David Weiss should be ashamed. And where is Lisa Monaco? Why hasn't she been called to testify?"

-Sol W.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

Bob Boyd -

Hilarious! and not at all found on SNL.

Free Manure While You Wait! said...

"It's good to be the king. Or the king's son."

Say hello to Hunter "Qusay" Biden.

Drago said...

Hunter Biden's tax payer funded Hooker: "I'm not policing anything - you jackass. Just pointing out you are a boring Trump-obsessed weenie."

There is nothing more tedious, repetitive, tired and predictable than every single thing you post, particularly anytime anyone dares criticize a GOPe-er.

And yes, you were "policing" the blog in self-anointed fashion, per usual.
Just like some notable Althouse blog lefties.

Food for thought.

Readering said...

Yancey Ward, a gratuitously nasty piece of work.

Mikey NTH said...

My recollection law clerking for a county judge on a high profile local case is that everyone is on his or toes and doing everything as correctly (triple checking) as possible because no one wants to see that case back again. Trying to mess with actual (civil service) court clerks is a desperate move that they and their comrades will remember, and you really don't want that reputation for yourself or your firm.