Hunter Biden might be subjected to legal proceedings as a special counsel is designated in the United States.

 Hunter Biden might be subjected to legal proceedings as a special counsel is designated in the United States.

 Hunter Biden, the son of U.S. President Joe Biden, has left federal court after attending a plea hearing related to two misdemeanor charges concerning willful failure to pay income taxes in Wilmington, Delaware, on July 26, 2023. This event follows a recent development in which talks regarding a potential plea deal have stalled, leading to the possibility of Hunter Biden facing trial on criminal charges. The U.S. Special Counsel overseeing the case, David Weiss, conveyed this information on Friday.

Earlier, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland promoted David Weiss, the federal prosecutor handling the matter, to the role of special counsel. This designation grants Weiss additional authority to continue his investigation. Certain members of Congress, particularly Republicans, have suggested the possibility of an impeachment inquiry based on unproven assertions that Biden's 54-year-old son benefited from his business activities.

In June, Weiss filed misdemeanor criminal charges against Hunter Biden related to tax evasion and possession of a firearm. Both parties initially reached a proposed plea agreement, but a federal judge declined to approve it. In a court filing on Friday, Weiss indicated that negotiations have reached an impasse, implying that a trial is likely to take place.

In July, Hunter Biden entered a plea of not guilty to charges of failing to pay taxes on income exceeding $1.5 million in 2017 and 2018, despite allegedly owing over $100,000 in taxes. Additionally, he faces charges of unlawfully possessing a firearm while using illegal substances, which is a felony. In this separate case, he did not enter a plea.

The prospect of a Hunter Biden trial could lead to an unprecedented scenario in U.S. history: the son of a sitting president facing criminal charges while his father is engaged in a re-election campaign for 2024. These events unfold against the backdrop of the likelihood that President Biden's opponent in the upcoming election will be Republican Donald Trump, who himself is contending with three ongoing criminal trials.