Hunter Biden’s legal team is in hot water over allegations of lying in a phone call to the court, brazenly attempting to get IRS whistleblowers’ information stricken from the docket.
(Video Credit: Fox News)
The documents in question were submitted earlier in the day as part of an amicus brief by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) Smith complained in the brief that Biden’s plea deal on gun and tax charges was far too lenient, and he contended that federal prosecutors’ investigation of Biden was tainted by political interference.
Hunter Biden’s attorneys are now claiming it was all just a big misunderstanding but the judge doesn’t seem to be buying it and is really ticked off over the move. The first son’s counsel has been threatened with sanctions for allegedly lying and it all smacks of desperation on their part. It could jeopardize his plea deal.
Smith’s amicus filing was signed and submitted to the court by Theodore Kittila, who is the managing partner of the Wilmington law firm Halloran Farkas Kittila LLP.
Not long after Kittila filed the brief, the clerk’s office informed the judge that a Latham & Watkins employee, Jessica Bengels, had called the clerk and falsely claimed to work with Kittila. The Latham & Watkins law firm is representing Hunter Biden.
Scandal in Delaware on eve of Hunter Biden plea deal. Judge Noreika has given Hunter’s lawyers to 9pm to explain why they should not be SANCTIONED for “misrepresentations to the Court… to improperly convince the Clerk’s Office to remove [GOP lawyer] materials from the docket” pic.twitter.com/h7SpGTMQKs
— Miranda Devine (@mirandadevine) July 25, 2023
During the call, Bengels reportedly requested that Smith’s filing be removed from the public docket due to sensitive information in it.
Delaware Judge Maryellen Noreika gave Hunter Biden’s attorneys until 9 pm on Tuesday to explain why they pulled the stunt, according to Fox News. In response, a staff member filed an affidavit with the court explaining that it was all a mix-up in the clerk’s office and provided details of what was said, including notes, and call records.
“The Court has discussed the matter with the relevant individuals in the Clerk’s Office and has been informed that the caller, Ms. Jessica Bengels, represented that she worked with Mr. Kittila and requested the amicus materials be taken down because they contained sensitive grand jury, taxpayer and social security information,” the court order asserted.
An attorney for Hunter Biden – Jessica Bengels with Latham Watkins – lied about who she worked for (alleging she was with Amicus) to get documents taken off the docket.
Here is the clerk’s email documenting what occurred. pic.twitter.com/ExTAolc9X8
— Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) July 26, 2023
“It appears that the caller misrepresented her identity and who she worked for in an attempt to improperly convince the clerk’s office to remove the amicus materials from the docket,” the judge noted.
“The Court will temporarily place the document under seal until close of business on July 26, 2023, to afford Defendant the opportunity to try to make the requisite showing,” the order continued. “Should Defendant fail to make that showing, the document will be unsealed in its entirety.”
Fox News obtained a letter that showed Hunter Biden’s legal team had told Judge Noreika that the attorney who called the clerk had accurately represented her affiliation with her law firm. They are blaming the clerk’s office for the incident.
“The matter under consideration appears to stem from an unfortunate and unintentional miscommunication between a staff member at our firm and employees of the Court,” the attorneys claimed. “We have no idea how the misunderstanding occurred, but our understanding is there was no misrepresentation.”
The letters between GOP lawyer Ted Kittila and Hunter Biden’s lawyer Chris Clark are quite something: “Someone from your side unilaterally contacted the Court and had our filing taken down.” pic.twitter.com/zhzstPsS24
— Miranda Devine (@mirandadevine) July 26, 2023
“We hope this letter and the attached declaration dispels any suggestion that undersigned counsel or our staff would ever intentionally misrepresent or mislead the Court with respect to any matter,” the letter stated in a calculated move that will probably only further inflame the situation.
Hunter Biden’s lawyers’ response here with affidavit from Bengels. It’s all been a “misunderstanding”. pic.twitter.com/aHDyK6Le9V
— Miranda Devine (@mirandadevine) July 26, 2023
Hunter Biden is set to plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of willful failure to pay federal income tax on Wednesday and to enter a pretrial diversion agreement over a separate gun-related felony charge. It is a sweetheart deal that could result in the first son serving no jail time whatsoever despite multiple felonies allegedly being committed.
The agreement was struck between Hunter Biden’s legal team and a compromised Department of Justice. The judge has the power to either accept it or strike it down.
Get the latest BPR news delivered free to your inbox daily. SIGN UP HERE
- Freedom of speech is on this ballot. UK-like rules, imprisonments for violations seem imminent with Kamala - November 4, 2024
- ‘I’m done!’ Hugh Hewitt rips off headset, storms off ‘unfair’ WaPo Live stream - November 1, 2024
- With 1 week to go, Jared Kushner talks chances of Ivanka pitching in to help Trump get elected - October 30, 2024
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.