In what appears to be a complete turnaround, federal prosecutor Leo Wise, known for his reputation as a determined investigator willing to expose corruption, is now under scrutiny for what some critics consider a lenient approach in the prosecution of Hunter Biden.
According to Fox News, Wise, the chief prosecutor in the federal criminal inquiry into President Biden’s son, played a crucial role in the highly criticized plea deal that collapsed last week. The deal was related to tax and gun charges against Hunter Biden.
During his initial court appearance in Delaware on July 26, Hunter Biden was expected to enter a guilty plea for two misdemeanor charges of willful failure to pay federal income tax. The plea deal was designed to spare him jail time on a felony gun charge.
In particular, the legal arrangement entailed both a plea agreement for the tax charges and a pretrial “diversion agreement” concerning a separate felony charge of possession of a firearm by an individual who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance.
According to the diversion agreement, if Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to the tax charges, the government would not pursue the more serious gun charge against him, Fox News noted.
Legal experts characterized the arrangement as a “sweetheart deal” for the president’s son, considering his extensive history of lucrative business dealings in China, Ukraine, and other countries, which have also faced scrutiny. Republicans have accused President Biden of gaining from Hunter’s overseas ventures—an allegation refuted by the White House and Biden’s supporters.
U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, a Trump appointee, who is overseeing the case, declined to approve the plea agreement, raising concerns about its constitutionality. Specifically, she questioned the legality of the diversion provision and the extensive immunity that Hunter Biden would receive.
The diversion agreement included a clause providing Hunter Biden with comprehensive and perpetual immunity for various matters investigated by the Justice Department during its extensive inquiry into the president’s son.
During the hearing, Noreika expressed frustration that she had not received a copy of the critical immunity paragraph until shortly before the proceedings commenced. She raised concerns about the potential unconstitutionality of the diversion agreement, which, if found to be the case, would render the entire plea deal unconstitutional.
Consequently, Hunter Biden didn’t receive the sought-after immunity, and throughout the hearing, the judge directed much of her criticism towards Wise, the lead prosecutor, while seeking further information about the plea deal. Ultimately, the deal collapsed in court.
When questioned, Wise informed Noreika that the agreement did not prevent prosecutors from investigating Hunter Biden for potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, prompting the first son’s attorney to assert that the plea deal was “null and void.” As a result, the agreement fell apart, and Hunter Biden ultimately entered a not-guilty plea.
Fox added:
Wise, 46, also prosecuted former Baltimore Police Commissioner Darryl De Sousa in a tax case. He additionally brought federal cases against former Maryland Del. Cheryl Glenn, who pleaded guilty to accepting bribes in 2020, and former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh, who resigned amid a scandal concerning her Healthy Holly books. Pugh ended up pleading guilty to conspiracy and tax evasion and served time in prison.
Beyond elected officials, Wise has targeted fellow lawyers, making him unpopular with many people in the legal community. For example, he handled the case against Kenneth Ravenell, a well-known Baltimore defense lawyer who was found guilty of laundering drug money in 2021 and is still appealing his conviction. Wise also prosecuted Ravenell’s original defense attorney, Joshua Treem, who was acquitted of obstruction of justice.
In short, Wise has an extensive history of prosecuting prominent figures preceding his new role in the Hunter Biden case.
