During the court hearing for a proposed plea agreement that went off the rails on Wednesday, Hunter Biden revealed he has been in and out of rehab six times over the past 20 years. Notably, before one of his admissions to a facility in Sedona, Arizona, in 2016, he was smoking crack all the way there.
While many people struggle with addiction, Biden’s history of rehab stints and continuing legal troubles are under the public eye, particularly given his father’s current position as President. Now Hunter’s saga includes a cushy plea deal gone awry and the potential for new criminal charges on the horizon, including foreign lobbying charges.
As part of his release conditions,
Judge Noreika ordered Hunter Biden to get a job, drink NO alcohol, not use or possess any drugs, and — if asked by pretrial services or officers —submit to testing and participate in substance abuse therapy pic.twitter.com/DA0m1U2GnK— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) July 26, 2023
Biden appeared in a Delaware federal court Wednesday, where he was expected to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax crimes and accept a pretrial diversion deal for a felony federal gun charge. However, U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika showed concerns over the legality and constitutionality of the agreement, leading to the collapse of the plea deal.
It was also revealed during the hearing that Hunter Biden is still under active investigation. Amid all this, Judge Noreika imposed conditions on Biden regarding a pretrial release pending the trial of the case. They include seeking employment, abstaining from drugs or alcohol, submitting to random drug testing and not possessing a firearm.
Rep. James Comer (R-KY), House Oversight Committee chairman, noted, “District Judge Noreika did the right thing by refusing to rubber-stamp Hunter Biden’s sweetheart plea deal.”
In many respects, Hunter Biden’s life has been marred by addiction and legal troubles, which have continued despite his father’s ascension to the presidency. Even in his memoir, “Beautiful Things”, published in 2021, he detailed his struggles with addiction, including failed attempts at sobriety and a relapse following the death of his brother Beau.
One significant concern arising from the Hunter Biden case is its effect on the presidency’s integrity. Critics argue that Hunter Biden’s actions reflect poorly on the office held by his father, a viewpoint shared by many conservatives who point out the striking contrast between the Biden family’s issues and the harsher treatment given to former President Trump and his family.
It is the responsibility of the American media to continue to shed light on these issues, ensuring transparency and accountability in the actions of individuals closely associated with our nation’s leadership. Hunter now faces an immediate trip to jail until his trial is completed if he fails to abide by the judge’s order based on his renewed plea of “not guilty.”
