Hunter Biden’s plea deal appeared to fall apart during his first court appearance Wednesday morning, amid questions about federal prosecutors’ plans for the ongoing investigation.
The president’s son was expected to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax counts of willful failure to pay federal income tax, as part of plea deal to avoid jail time on a felony gun charge.
But Judge Maryellen Noreika pressed federal prosecutors on the investigation and questioned whether there was the possibility for future charges.
Hunter Biden was also expected to enter into a pretrial diversion agreement regarding a separate felony charge of possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance.
His plea deal, which has faced ire from Republicans and opponents of the president, was likely to keep Hunter Biden out of jail.