Hunter Biden's defense attorney blames federal prosecutors for a plea deal that imploded in court last month.
Abbe Lowell, who represents the younger Biden along with attorney Chris Clark, claimed prosecutors failed to make it clear to the defense that further charges might be pending.
“What group of experienced criminal defense attorneys would allow their client to plead guilty to a felony on a Monday considering they knew a felony could be charged on a Wednesday?” Lowell told Face the Nation on Sunday CBS.
Lowell also appeared confident that if prosecutors stick to “the facts, the evidence and the law,” there won't be any new charges against the first son.
“There is no new evidence,” he said.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland said on Friday granted US Attorney David from Delaware – the contact person in the Hunter Biden case – is a special counsel.
During a July 26 hearing, a federal judge dismantled the parole-only settlement the two sides agreed to and joined the defense in questioning whether future indictments were possible.
Shortly before the hearing, Congressional Republicans reinforced the IRS whistleblower's testimony, claiming that the federal investigation into Hunter Biden was characterized by favoritism.
Lowell stressed that prosecutors reached out to the defense team to see if a resolution was possible and that they were tasked with finding out the wording. He also contended that there were three possible reasons the plea failed – all pointing fingers at prosecutors.
“First, they wrote something and they weren't clear what they meant… Second, they knew what they meant and misrepresented it to the attorney. Or third, they changed their minds while on trial in Delaware,” he accused.
Hunter Biden faces two counts of willful non-payment of his federal income taxes and one count of illegal possession of a gun while on drug addiction.
During the controversial hearing in July, prosecutors appeared to hint at the possibility that more charges could arise from the ongoing federal investigation into the first son's business activities.
When prosecutors realized more charges would remain on the table, Hunter's defense team balked.
Another nail in the coffin were constitutional questions raised about the deal by US District Judge Maryellen Noreika, a former candidate for President Donald Trump.
Hunter Biden eventually pleaded not guilty to all three charges against him.
When asked if there was a possibility that the first son's financial transactions from China, Ukraine and Romania “crossed the line,” Lowell referred to the federal investigation.
“When you say ‘limit crossed', we know this: [over] 5 years [they did a] “He conducted a thorough investigation, examining the Chinese, the energy company and the other foreign companies,” Lowell said.
“Think of it this way. What did this group of prosecutors who were Trump-appointed Republicans do — what motive did they have for turning away from anything suggesting wrongdoing against Hunter Biden,” he said. “There wasn't one.”
As the federal case against Hunter Biden continues, Republicans in Congress are pursuing their own investigation.
On Wednesday, the oversight committee highlighted financial documents, revealing that the Biden family and its allies have raised at least $20 million from foreign sources — including in Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine.
President Biden has claimed he “never discussed business with his son's associates.”
