Hunter Biden attorneys return to court as he seeks to have tax charges tossed

The federal judge overseeing an attempt by Hunter Biden to dismiss tax charges against him appeared sceptical of arguments put forward by lawyers for the president’s son in Los Angeles, saying there was little evidence that special counsel David Weiss had been influenced by Republicans.

The office of Mr Weiss has accused 54-year-old Mr Biden of not paying taxes on millions in income from business dealings abroad. Mr Biden, who was not present at the hearing on Wednesday, pleaded not guilty earlier this year.

Mr Biden has moved to dismiss the tax charges against him “because Special Counsel Weiss was Unlawfully Appointed and This Prosecution Violates the Appropriations Clause” and “for Selective and Vindictive Prosecution and Breach of Separation of Powers” and “for Due Process Violations Based on Outrageous Government Conduct”, according to a court schedule.

Mr Biden’s lawyer Abbe Lowell has argued in court filings that the indictment came after political pressure from Republicans.

Mr Weiss responded that Mr Biden “testified to Congress that the Special Counsel had undermined the impeachment inquiry conducted by House Republicans”.

“Which is it?” he asked. “Indeed, the defendant has no evidence to support his shapeshifting claims because the Special Counsel continues to pursue the fair, evenhanded administration of the federal criminal laws.”

The trial has been scheduled for 20 June.

On Wednesday, US District Judge Mark Scarsi said there did not “seem to be any evidence” that efforts by Republicans to pressure special counsel Weiss “influenced the prosecutors’ decision other than the timeline. The judge likened the motion to some “smoke” but without sufficient “fire,” ABC News reported.

Mr Lowell later conceded that he