President Biden expressed pride in his son, Hunter, following the latter's guilty plea on tax evasion charges. This development drew sharp criticism, particularly from Bradford Cohen, the lawyer representing rapper Kodak Black, who served time for a similar federal weapons offense. Cohen questioned the disparity in their sentences, highlighting what he perceives as a two-tiered justice system.
Hunter Biden's plea deal involves two misdemeanor counts of tax evasion and a pretrial diversion agreement for firearm possession. Cohen contrasted this outcome with Black's experience, who received a prison sentence exceeding three years for falsifying information on federal forms to purchase firearms. Although Black's sentence was later commuted by President Trump, Cohen argues that Biden's lack of prison time underscores an inconsistent application of justice.
Cohen emphasized the rarity of avoiding prison time for federal gun charges, asserting that such leniency is unprecedented in his experience. He compared Biden's case to that of actress Felicity Huffman, who served a short prison sentence for her involvement in the college admissions scandal. He questioned why Huffman faced incarceration, even for a brief period, while Biden received no prison time at all.
Cohen criticized the inclusion of a diversion program in Biden's plea deal, a practice he deems unusual in federal cases. He speculated that this arrangement might be a strategic move to delay any potential pardon from President Biden until later in his term. Cohen's critique centers on the perceived discrepancy between the severity of federal crimes and the apparent leniency shown in Biden's case, raising concerns about potential preferential treatment for public figures.
This case has ignited a debate about equal justice under the law, with some questioning whether political influence played a role in the outcome.
