Hunter Biden Mimics Donald Trump Legal Move, Creating TV Debate Clash

Hunter Biden is seeking to delay the start of his tax evasion trial in California as it clashes with the timeline of his federal gun case.

In court filings submitted Thursday, lawyers for President Joe Biden's son sought to push back the start of the tax evasion trial from June 20 to September 5. Hunter Biden's legal team said the trial would be "exceedingly difficult" to prepare for as their client is also set for trial in Delaware on June 3 to face charges for allegedly owning a gun while using drugs. He has pleaded not guilty in both cases.

The move is similar to one put forward by former President Donald Trump, who previously sought to delay his federal classified documents case until after the 2024 election as the schedule would clash with Special Counsel Jack Smith's other investigation into Trump's alleged criminal attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Hunter Biden's attempt to move the tax evasion trial until September 5 would also mean it could coincide with the second live televised debate between Trump and President Biden scheduled for September 10 on ABC.

Hunter Biden's legal team has been contacted for comment via email.

If the tax evasion trial is not delayed and goes on as scheduled, it would take place a week before the first live televised debate between the presumptive Democratic and Republican nominees hosted by CNN on June 27.

This could set up the chance for Trump to use Hunter Biden's legal issues against the president in the election debate. During one of the debates in 2020, Trump made references to a "laptop" believed to be one belonging to Hunter Biden to push the disputed claim that the Democrat personally profited from his son's business dealings in Ukraine and China. Joe Biden has denied the allegations.

If Trump is found guilty by a jury in the ongoing hush money trial in New York before the first debate between the two, Biden would have the ammunition to call the former president a convicted felon.

The latest filing from Hunter Biden's lawyers in California came after U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika rejected a request to delay the start of the gun case in Delaware to September, saying she believes "everyone can get done what needs to get done" by the trial's start date of June 3.

In their filings seeking a delay, Hunter Biden's lawyers noted the timeline of the Delaware trial, suggesting they need more time to prepare for the tax evasion trial.

"Besides the clear prejudice of having to prepare for two bi-coastal criminal trials at one time, counsel has encountered unexpected and unique difficulties which make it impossible to meet current deadlines, especially given the uniquely challenging, highprofile and politically charged nature of this case," Hunter Biden's legal team wrote.

"For example, finding qualified expert witnesses willing to address the complex tax issues involved in the case has been difficult. These difficulties, coupled with the ongoing appellate litigation and Delaware trial preparation, have impeded counsel's efforts to provide competent and effective counsel to Mr. Biden—and not for want of working as hard as possible."

Hunter Biden's lawyers argued that failing to grant their request for a continuance would deny them "the reasonable time necessary for effective preparation and representation."

Hunter Biden's lead counsel told the court that he wishes to attend the funeral of a "decades-long, dear friend" who recently died, in Washington, D.C. on May 29, the same day as the pretrial conference.

"Given all of the associated filings, preparation, and travel involved for the Delaware trial, much of which overlap with the current pretrial deadlines in this matter, it will be exceedingly difficult (even if he does not attend his friend's funeral) for Mr. Biden's lead trial counsel to appear in person on May 29, 2024 to argue for a trial continuance," the filings state.

Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes from 2016 to 2019.