Hunter Biden now faces two trials this summer after judge tossed bid to dismiss tax charges

Hunter Biden is now facing two criminal trials this summer after a federal judge threw out his bid to dismiss a string of tax charges.

In a court ruling on Monday 1 April, US District Judge Mark Scarsi rejected all eight motions filed by attorneys representing President Joe Biden’s son, including the argument that special counsel David Weiss brought the charges due to pressure from the president’s Republican critics.

“Defendant provides no facts indicating that the Government undertook charging decisions in any respect because of public statements by politicians, let alone based on Defendant’s familial and political affiliations,” the judge wrote.

Abbe Lowell, Hunter Biden’s attorney, hit out at the ruling and hinted that he could appeal it.

“We strongly disagree with the court’s decision and will continue to vigorously pursue Mr Biden’s challenges to the abnormal way the special counsel handled this investigation and charged this case,” she said.

The decision has now paved the way for Hunter Biden to head to trial in California on 20 June – just days after his first trial on gun-related charges in Delaware is slated to take place.

Mr Weiss hit Hunter Biden with nine tax-related criminal charges in December.

Prosecutors allege that Hunter Biden made millions of dollars in income between the years 2016 and 2020 and enjoyed a lavish lifestyle of “exotic cars”, “drugs, escorts and girlfriends” – all the while skipping out on more than $1.4m in taxes.

According to the indictment, Hunter “engaged in a four-year scheme to not pay at least $1.4 million in self-assessed federal taxes he owed for tax years 2016 through 2019, from in or about January 2017 through in or about October 15, 2020, and to evade the assessment of taxes