Hunter Biden Pleads Not Guilty After Plea Deal Falls Apart in Court

Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, pleaded not guilty on July 26 to federal tax and gun charges after the presiding judge objected to an earlier plea agreement that had linked the two alleged crimes. At the July 26 hearing, U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika expressed "concerns" that Mr. Biden's plea agreement linked tax crimes to resolving felony gun charges. Judge Noreika, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, said she couldn't accept the deal in its current form. Following in-court discussions between prosecutors and the defense team about the structure of the agreement, Mr. Biden entered a plea of not guilty. On June 20, prosecutors said that Mr. Biden had agreed to plead guilty to intentionally failing to pay federal income taxes and to a felony gun charge. As part of the conditions for staying out of jail, the judge ordered Mr. Biden to abstain from alcohol and illegal drugs, submit to random drug testing, not possess a firearm, "continue or actively seek employment," and communicate all international travel plans.