Hunter Biden’s legal team is standing firm on including Rudy Giuliani as a key figure in the upcoming tax evasion trial. Prosecutor David Weiss is scrutinizing this decision and has raised concerns over potential violations of court rules related to the inclusion of Giuliani and 21 other names submitted by Biden’s attorney, Mark Geragos.
Weiss, in an eight-page filing, stated that Geragos’s inclusion of these names could represent a breach of a prior court ruling. The special counsel accused the defense of trying to sway the proceedings with unjustified names.
In a swift response, Geragos rejected these claims, arguing that Weiss’s comments were intended to undermine Biden’s defense before the trial even starts. Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, faces charges in California for allegedly evading taxes on millions earned through foreign consulting, with the indictment highlighting extravagant spending on personal luxuries.
According to the DOJ, Biden failed to pay $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019 and is facing a total of nine tax-related charges, to which he has pled not guilty.
Additionally, Hunter previously initiated legal action against Giuliani over alleged leaks from his personal laptop, but later dropped the lawsuit in June. The current kerfuffle stems from a glossary both parties were asked to submit, outlining key terms and individuals involved in the trial.
Geragos contended that Weiss used this glossary as an opportunity to paint him negatively, suggesting that the defense would ignore court rulings. He clarified that the names could play a role in discussions outside the jury’s hearing, emphasizing that there was no intent to breach court orders.
Jury selection is set to begin on September 5, with the trial scheduled to commence shortly afterward on September 9.