(NewsNation) — An attorney for Hunter Biden accused prosecutors Wednesday of wanting to introduce salacious details about partying and spending by President Joe Biden’s son to smear his character in front of jurors at his upcoming trial on federal tax charges.
During a lengthy hearing in Los Angeles federal court, Hunter Biden’s lawyer said special counsel David Weiss’ team was intent on “character assassination” by seeking to bring in evidence of spending on things like strippers in the case alleging a scheme to avoid paying at least $1.4 million in taxes. Biden has pleaded not guilty.
“They want to slime him because that is the whole purpose,” attorney Mark Geragos told U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi.
Geragos’ comments came as the defense and prosecution sparred for hours over what evidence and testimony jurors should be allowed to hear when the trial begins early next month. It’s the second criminal trial in just months for the president’s son, who was convicted in June of three felony charges in a separate federal case over the purchase of a gun in 2018.
Potential jurors are expected to be brought to the court for questioning on Sept. 5, with opening statements in the trial expected on Sept. 9.
Prosecutors and the defense have been fighting for weeks in court papers over what evidence and testimony jurors should be allowed to hear. Among the topics at issue is evidence related to Biden’s foreign business dealings, which have been at the center of Republican investigations into the Democratic president’s family.
Biden’s lawyers have unsuccessfully tried to get the charges dismissed, most recently arguing the case should be tossed following a Florida federal judge’s dismissal of the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump. The judge in that case ruled the special prosecutor who brought the charges against Trump was illegally appointed.
On Monday, U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi denied Biden’s lawyer’s argument, noting in his ruling that he had already rejected a previous challenge by Biden to the appointment of special counsel David Weiss. The judge said there was “no valid basis for reconsideration” of that decision.
Scarsi, who was appointed to the bench by Trump, had accused Biden’s lawyers of making “false statements” in their court filing urging the judge to dismiss the case. At issue was a defense comment that no charges were brought in the investigation until after Weiss was named special counsel in August 2023.
Biden’s lawyers responded that they have “never tried to mislead” the court.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
