Hunter Biden's legal team is pushing to exclude references to “foreign wrongdoing” in his upcoming federal tax trial.

The first son's lawyers argue that such details are politically motivated and serve to discredit both Hunter and his father, President Joe Biden at trial, as the Washington Examiner reports.

This request comes as special counsel David Weiss's team plans to introduce evidence related to Hunter Biden’s business dealings with Romanian businessman Gabriel Popoviciu.

In a recent filing, Hunter Biden’s attorneys requested that the court prevent the prosecution from bringing up what they describe as "politically charged" allegations.

Weiss, however, has indicated his intent to use testimony and evidence regarding Biden's business activities with Popoviciu to counter defense claims about Biden's impaired judgment due to drug use.

Prosecutors Aim to Link Business Dealings to U.S. Government Influence

Prosecutors allege that the dealings with Popoviciu were part of an effort to influence U.S. government policies during Joe Biden’s vice presidency.

According to the prosecution, Popoviciu sought Hunter Biden’s help to intervene in a bribery investigation in Romania. They argue that this evidence is crucial to rebutting the defense's claims that Hunter Biden’s illicit drug use impacted his decision-making abilities.

Hunter Biden's defense team, led by attorney Abbe Lowell, has described these accusations as “baseless and false.” They argue that the prosecution is trying to shift the focus of the trial away from the actual charges related to Hunter Biden’s taxes.

Lowell has asked the judge to keep the trial focused strictly on the tax issues at hand, rather than allowing what he termed a “side show” involving unrelated allegations.

Accusations of Influence Peddling and Large Payments Surface

The prosecution intends to call a business associate of Hunter Biden to testify about the alleged influence peddling scheme involving Popoviciu. They claim that Biden and his associate were paid more than $3 million for their efforts, which were supposedly aimed at influencing U.S. public policy. This payment, according to prosecutors, was then divided between the involved parties.

Hunter Biden's defense maintains that these allegations are being promoted by House Republicans to attack both him and his father. They insist that these claims have no bearing on the tax charges and should not be part of the trial.

Judge Previously Warned Hunter Biden's Legal Team

This request to exclude certain evidence comes after a prior warning from Judge Mark Scarsi, who had admonished Hunter Biden’s legal team for making false statements in an attempt to dismiss the tax indictment. The judge cautioned the defense about possible sanctions if such conduct continued.

Hunter Biden is facing three felony charges and six misdemeanor counts related to approximately $1.4 million in unpaid taxes. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. This upcoming trial in California federal court, set to begin on Sept. 9 with jury selection, is just one of several legal battles the president’s son is currently engaged in.

Earlier Conviction and Ongoing Legal Battles

In a separate case in Delaware, Hunter Biden was convicted of three felonies related to firearms possession while he was addicted to drugs. He is currently appealing that conviction. The defense argues that the current tax trial should focus exclusively on the charges at hand and not be muddied by unrelated allegations.

Abbe Lowell, Hunter Biden's attorney, has expressed concern that the prosecution is attempting to "showcase these matters on the eve of Mr. Biden’s trial." He urged Judge Scarsi to keep the trial focused on the tax issues, rather than allowing extraneous matters to complicate the proceedings.

Hunter Biden's Legal Strategy Moving Forward

Hunter Biden’s legal team is working to ensure that the trial remains centered on the tax charges without being influenced by the politically charged context surrounding the case. They are striving to prevent what they see as a politically motivated attack from overshadowing the legal proceedings.

The trial, which is drawing significant public attention, could have far-reaching implications, both legally for Hunter Biden and politically for his father’s presidency.

The court’s decision on whether to include or exclude evidence related to Biden’s foreign business dealings could significantly shape the outcome of the trial.