Staff Reports
In a recent court filing, the first son, Hunter Biden’s defense team has called for a federal judge to subpoena former President Donald Trump, former Attorney General Bill Barr, and other Justice Department officials for any records or communications related to the investigation into Hunter Biden that began in 2018. The defense team, led by Abbe Lowell and Bartholomew Dalton, alleges that there has been a relentless public pressure campaign by the former president to prosecute Hunter Biden for “partisan ambitions.”
According to the lawyers, remarks, congressional interviews, and social media posts by Trump and others suggest improper and unrelenting pressure on the Department of Justice (DOJ) over the Hunter probe. They specifically point to congressional testimony from IRS whistleblowers, previously released records from former Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and Deputy Attorney General Richard Donoghue, as well as statements made in Barr’s 2022 memoir as evidence of this alleged interference.
Well done Hunter Biden.
Hunter Biden asks to subpoena Trump and former AG Bill Barr, alleging 'unrelenting' political interference in his case https://t.co/B2fm78apDi via @nypost
— @heroesatwork (@heroesatwork) November 15, 2023
The defense team is seeking subpoenas to cover all documents and records regarding Hunter Biden, including diaries, journals, memoirs, memos, and notes, dating from Jan. 20, 2017, until the present. They also reference Barr’s memoir, in which he recounts dismissing an attempt by the president to discuss the investigation during an October 2020 phone call, as further proof of improper pressure.
Additionally, the lawyers cite social media posts by Trump, in which he referred to a plea agreement with Hunter Biden as a “sweetheart deal” and “traffic ticket,” as well as efforts by congressional Republicans to undermine the Justice Department through their own investigations of the Bidens. The defense team argues that this outside interference from congressional Republicans has further jeopardized the independent and apolitical prosecutorial process, which is meant to be free from political influence.
Furthermore, Hunter’s lawyers have asserted that the records requests are not a “fishing expedition” but rather essential to Hunter’s defense, as they aim to establish that the prosecution may be vindictive or selective, which could violate Hunter Biden’s Fifth Amendment rights. The defense team has requested that all records be turned over by December 1 to allow sufficient time to review before pre-trial motions must be filed.
This news comes as Hunter Biden is scheduled to stand trial next year following his September indictment on three charges related to providing false information on a federal gun purchase form about his drug use. The legal team’s request for subpoenas has been made in an effort to shed light on the alleged interference in the Justice Department’s investigation, as they seek to defend Hunter Biden against what they claim is a politically motivated prosecution.
