Hunter Biden pleads not guilty to firearms charges

Hunter Biden will plead not guilty to federal firearms charges brought after he failed to reach a deal in a long-running federal investigation, his lawyers said in court documents Tuesday.

Biden is accused of lying about his drug use when he bought a firearm in October 2018 while admitting he was struggling with crack cocaine addiction. He is accused of keeping the weapon for eleven days.

The three-count indictment from a special prosecutor overseeing the case came weeks after the proposed plea agreement and puts the case on track for a possible high-stakes trial as the 2024 election approaches.

He is asking to join the plea remotely via videoconference, saying it would avoid the cost of Secret Service protection on his journey from his home in California to Delaware as well as logistical challenges in Wilmington. Prosecutors are expected to oppose that request.

Hunter Biden is also under investigation for his business dealings, and the special counsel has suggested that tax bills could eventually be filed in Washington or California, where he lives.