Hunter Biden's top lawyer in the criminal cases against him has asked to be withdrawn from future proceedings, just weeks after a proposed plea deal that the attorney negotiated was contested.
The plea agreement, which was announced in June, would have seen President Joe Biden's son admit to two misdemeanor tax charges while avoiding a gun charge but wouldn't have granted Hunter Biden immunity in other criminal cases brought against him.
What Happened: Christopher Clark, Hunter Biden's long-time defense attorney, filed a motion Tuesday requesting that he be withdrawn from the case, citing a conflict of interest following the breakdown of plea negotiations, according to CNN.
"Based on recent developments, it appears that the negotiation and drafting of the plea agreement and diversion agreement will be contested, and Mr. Clark is a percipient witness to those issues," Hunter Biden's lawyers said, according to the outlet.
The Backdrop: Last week, federal prosecutors reached an impasse over a plea deal related to tax offenses and an associated “diversion agreement," according to a report.
In response, they petitioned the judge to retract the late August deadline previously set for both parties to renegotiate the terms. This request followed the judge’s refusal to grant approval during a hearing held in July, CNN said.
Hunter Biden’s legal team asserts the plea deal remains “valid and binding” and Abbe Lowell, one of the attorneys representing the president's son, directed blame towards the prosecutors, stating the contested elements in the agreements were drawn up by them, according to the publication.
Amid the unraveling of the plea discussions, U.S. attorney David Weiss, the prosecutor overseeing the case, sought and was subsequently granted “special counsel” status by Attorney General Merrick Garland, CNN reported.
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