A federal judge has dismissed tax evasion charges against Hunter Biden after a plea deal broke down between prosecutors and the son of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
U.S. District Judge James Sweeney dismissed six counts of failing to file foreign bank account reports and two counts of failure to pay taxes after prosecutors and Biden’s defense team were unable to reach a resolution on the case.
“The United States respectfully submits that this Court now dismiss the counts with prejudice as discussed,” prosecutors said in a filing.
Biden was accused of failing to disclose an offshore business, which prosecutors alleged he set up to hide the ownership of some of his income, and of failing to pay taxes on income he earned abroad. He was indicted in December on criminal tax and financial disclosure charges, then entered into a plea agreement in February.
Biden’s decision to reject the plea agreement terms led the Department of Justice to withdraw it and file a motion to dismiss the charges. The government has stated that the dismissal is “without prejudice,” meaning the charges could be reinstated if he breaches the agreement’s terms.
The tax case was scrutinized during the campaign given that it involved the son of Joe Biden, who is seeking to challenge President Donald Trump in the November election. However, Sweeney ruled there was no political interference in the case.
