Judge skeptical of Hunter Biden's effort to dismiss tax case as politically motivated

Hines rejected the idea that he and other prosecutors were at Trump’s beck and call, awaiting the former president’s comments on Truth Social.

“It is absolutely outrageous (the) types of allegations that they’ve brought to the table,” Hines said.

Separately, Biden’s lawyers want the case dropped on grounds of “outrageous government conduct,” arguing in a motion that Shapley and Ziegler, the two IRS agents who claimed to be whistleblowers, carried out “vigilante justice” and trampled on Biden’s constitutional right to due process.

But the judge splashed cold water on the argument.

“How are the agents responsible for what’s in the indictment?” Scarsi asked Lowell.

“Can I say [prosecutors] saw them on Fox News ... and that that’s why that was done? I can’t make the connection that that’s why that was done,” said Lowell, adding, “It was those two agents who started the dominoes.”

“There’s no dominoes,” countered Assistant U.S. Atty. Leo Wise, a lead prosecutor. “Where’s the proof that these two guys going on TV has anything to do with what we did?”

Biden’s lawyers had also cited the maelstrom of political pressure in their quest to enforce an immunity deal that was reached in tandem with the plea deal.

Prosecutors and Biden’s lawyers had drawn up what’s known as a diversion agreement last summer, which called for Biden to comply with certain terms, such as not using firearms or drugs. As part of the diversion agreement, prosecutors would offer him immunity on some charges, including tax crimes.

Prosecutors and Biden had signed the diversion agreement, which Biden’s lawyers say renders it binding and valid — even though the plea deal collapsed.

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