One of the top lawyers on Hunter Biden’s legal team has suddenly filed a motion to withdraw himself as counsel to the Democrat president’s son. The move comes shortly after Hunter Biden’s controversial “sweetheart” plea deal and diversion agreement collapsed in the final moments.
On Tuesday, the younger Biden’s attorney Christopher J. Clark filed a motion for leave to withdraw from Hunter’s legal team.
Clark cites his position as a witness in the negotiations with Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors on a guilty plea and diversion agreement.
“Christopher J. Clark, having appeared in this matter for Defendant Robert Hunter Biden, hereby moves for leave to withdraw as counsel in the above-captioned matter,” the lawyer’s motion reads.
“Mr. Biden will continue to be represented by other firms that have entered an appearance on behalf of Mr. Biden, and therefore has ample counsel.”
“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,” his motion adds.
“Under the ‘witness-advocate’ rule, it is inadvisable for Mr. Clark to continue as counsel in this case.”
Clark is a partner at the law firm Clark Smith Villazor LLP.
He previously worked as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York.
The top lawyer has also represented high-profile clients such as Elon Musk and Mark Cuban, in addition to Hunter Biden.
On Monday, another one of Biden’s attorneys, Abbe Lowell, was added as additional counsel for the Delaware case.
On Sunday, Lowell appeared on CBS News to defend Hunter Biden before he was officially put on the case.
During a Friday interview with primetime host Kaitlan Collins, he also appeared on CNN to defend his client.
Clark was representing Hunter Biden at the late July court appearance where his guilty plea and diversion agreement fell apart.
Delaware U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika scrutinized an immunity provision tucked into Biden’s diversion agreement.
BREAKING: House Oversight released a new memo showing the Bidens took millions from Russian, Ukrainian and Kazakh oligarchs. The committee has found more than $20 million in payments from foreign partners to the Biden family and its associates @DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/HrJAXD3ysp
— James Lynch (@jameslynch32) August 9, 2023
The scrutiny caused a disagreement between DOJ prosecutor Leo Wise and Clark on the scope of Biden’s potential immunity.
Wise told Noreika that Hunter Biden could still be charged under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) related to his foreign business dealings.
Clark disagreed, however.
The dispute resulted in Hunter Biden pleading not guilty to his two tax misdemeanor charges.
In a Sunday filing, Hunter’s legal team claimed the diversion agreement is “valid and binding,” despite the fallout between the first son’s lawyers and DOJ prosecutors.
The DOJ indicated that Biden’s case is likely to go to trial, nevertheless.
In a Friday motion, federal prosecutors moved to relocate Hunter’s tax charges to either D.C. or the Southern District of California.
On Friday, Attorney General Merrick Garland named Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss, the leading prosecutor in Hunter Biden’s case, as special counsel, as Slay News reported.
Meanwhile, Republican House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) has led objections to Weiss’s appointment as special counsel.
Many have cited the IRS whistleblower testimony showing DOJ prosecutors slow-walked and obstructed the Biden investigation under Weiss’s leadership.
