When a plea deal is reached after months of negotiation, the court’s formal acceptance of it is often carefully choreographed—and predictable.
So it was notable on Wednesday, when the deal for Hunter Biden to plead guilty to two misdemeanors for failing to pay taxes on time fell apart in federal court after the judge raised questions about it.
That wasn’t the only cool surprise of the week. Special Counsel Jack Smith unexpectedly added a major allegation to the charge that former President Donald Trump was accused of tampering with classified documents.
Trump’s team braced for possible allegations stemming from Smith’s investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
In a “superseding indictment,” Smith alleged that Trump wanted Mar-a-Lago officials to erase the security camera footage to prevent it from being turned over to a grand jury.
Trump responded to the allegation by stating that there was “election interference” and misconduct by prosecutors.
The Trump and Hunter Biden developments underscored how America’s political climate is being shaped by what happens in the courts.
Norman Eisen wrote that while revising the indictment against Trump risked delaying a trial, the move was worth it:
“While the Justice Department already had evidence on obstruction, this is a leap forward because it shows the extent to which it and its co-defendants hid potential evidence from a jury. This addition, an alleged surveillance tape conspiracy, almost reads like a spy novel.”
“If the facts support the accusation, this is legal evidence that also has a strong human dimension. As with the nature of the Bedminster tape and Fox News appearance, a former president allegedly dragging two of his employees into a criminal scheme makes for an extremely unsympathetic look,” Eisen noted.
For W. James Antle III, it was the Hunter Biden plea deal mess that brought to light the “mighty split screen that drives” how Republican voters view the 2024 presidential race.
“Republicans have long claimed that President Joe Biden’s son received special treatment from prosecutors investigating his business practices and tax and gun crime allegations, even as former President Donald Trump faced the strictest legal scrutiny for any and all potential offence.
health issues
On Wednesday, a routine press conference by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell attracted wide attention when the senator froze and was unable to answer a question before being escorted away.
Though he returned minutes later and fluently answered questions, the 81-year-old senator’s health remained a topic of conversation, as did Senator Dianne Feinstein, 90.
As Julian Zelizer has pointed out: “In presidential politics, health has also been a major concern, particularly given the age of the current leading candidates – President Joe Biden, 80, and former President Donald Trump, 77.
“The age of politicians should not be a determining factor for voters – given that many older politicians have proven to still be up to the job and many younger politicians have proven not – health is a legitimate issue.”
“Think about it: we evaluate candidates and incumbents based on a range of qualifications – intelligence, charisma, ethics, political prowess, experience – and much more. Why shouldn’t their health, particularly in terms of their ability to do their jobs, be included on this list? Furthermore, if politicians were more transparent about their health, the public might be less concerned about their age and agility.”
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
