WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, arrived Wednesday at a federal court where he is expected to plead guilty to two tax crimes and admit possessing a gun as a drug user in a deal with the Justice Department that’s likely to spare him time behind bars.
U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was appointed by then-President Donald Trump, will preside over the hearing and must sign off on the deal, in which prosecutors are recommending two years of probation. Hunter Biden is not expected to be sentenced on Wednesday.
The deal, announced last month, comes after a years-long Justice Department investigation into the taxes and foreign business dealings of the Democratic president’s second son, who has acknowledged struggling with addiction following the 2015 death of his brother, Beau Biden.
From the archives (June 2023): Hunter Biden reaches deal to plead guilty to federal misdemeanor tax evasion charges
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While legally this will clear the air for Hunter Biden and avert a trial that would have generated weeks or months of distracting headlines, the politics remain as messy as ever, with Republicans insisting he got a sweetheart deal and the Justice Department pressing ahead on investigations into Trump, the GOP’s 2024 presidential-primary frontrunner.
Trump is already facing a state criminal case in New York and a federal indictment in Florida. But last week, a target letter was sent to Trump from special counsel Jack Smith that suggests the former president may soon be indicted on new federal charges, this time involving his struggle to cling to power after his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden.
See: Trump says he’s a target of special counsel Jack Smith’s Jan. 6 case
Also: Trump jokes about his legal woes on campaign trail in Iowa: ‘Now I’m becoming an expert’
Republicans claim a double standard, in which the president’s son got off easy while the president’s rival has been unfairly castigated. Congressional Republicans are pursuing their own investigations into nearly every facet of Hunter Biden’s dealings, including foreign payments.
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On Tuesday, a dust-up arose after Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee filed court documents urging Noreika to consider testimony from IRS whistleblowers who alleged Justice Department interference in the investigation.
Shortly after their motion was filed, a court clerk received a call requesting that “sensitive grand jury, taxpayer and Social Security information” be kept under seal, according to an oral order from the judge. The clerk said the lawyer gave her name and said she worked with an attorney from the Ways and Means Committee but was in fact a lawyer with the defense team.
Further context: Senate Republican Grassley criticized for releasing FBI FD-1023 form in full despite unsubstantiated Hunter Biden claims
Also see: GOP releases testimony of whistleblowers claiming interference in Hunter Biden case
Plus: Comer moves to hold FBI director Wray in contempt over Biden documents
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Noreika demanded the defense team show why she should not consider sanctioning them for “misrepresentations to the court.” Defense attorneys responded that their lawyer had represented herself truthfully from the start and called the matter a misunderstanding.
NBC News reported as the Wednesday proceeding got under way that the prosecutors and Hunter Biden’s legal representatives had agreed that last month’s pretrial agreement should stand.
President Biden, meanwhile, has said very little publicly. “I’m very proud of my son,” he has said.
Under the terms announced last month, Hunter Biden will plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges of failure to pay more than $100,000 in taxes from over $1.5 million in income in both 2017 and 2018. The back taxes have since been paid, according to a person familiar with the investigation who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The maximum penalty for the charges would be a year in prison.
Hunter Biden also was charged with possession of a firearm by a person who is a known drug user: He had a Colt Cobra .38 Special for 11 days in October 2018.
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According to the pretrial pact, he agreed to enter into a diversion agreement, which means that he won’t technically plead guilty to the crime, but if he adheres to the terms of his agreement the case will be wiped from his record. If not, the deal is withdrawn. This type of agreement is an option usually for nonviolent offenders with substance-abuse issues. Otherwise, the charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Christopher Clark, a lawyer for Hunter Biden, said in a statement last month when the deal was announced that it was his understanding that the five-year investigation had now been resolved.
“I know Hunter believes it is important to take responsibility for these mistakes he made during a period of turmoil and addiction in his life,” Clark said then. “He looks forward to continuing his recovery and moving forward.”
It’s fall festival season, with several on the calendar this weekend in Philadelphia and its suburbs. The Midtown Village Fall Festival, The Fishtown Fall Feastivale and the Philly Beer Festival are all on the schedule, as well as the Mural Arts 40th anniversary celebration and the Mt. Airy Arts Festival. Upper Darby will also host its annual International Festival. And there’s more!
Graham Nash is heading to South Jersey with Judy Collins. The Hindu celebration of Ratha Yatra and the Puerto Rican Day Parade are happening on the Ben Franklin Parkway while the Philadelphia Orchestra hosts three concerts at Marian Anderson Hall for its season-opening weekend. Plus, fans of hard alternative R&B and soul will likely be drawn to Brittany Howard and Michael Kiwanuka, who are playing at the Met to close out the weekend.
New Jersey | Delaware | Special Events | Arts & Culture | Food/Drink | Music
New Jersey
Graham Nash w/Judy Collins: Songs and Stories
Graham Nash in conversation at the 92nd Street Y on Thursday, June 1, 2023, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)
Crosby, Stills and Nash made music that forms core memories. They certainly did for singer/songwriter Graham Nash, who penned those iconic tunes. He’s bringing Judy Collins (“Send in the Clowns”), who just celebrated her 85th birthday, to his show in South Jersey. With their combined time in the music industry, we’re sure they both have some great stories to tell.
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Delaware
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
The young bluesman from Clarksdale, Mississippi absorbed the examples of his many predecessors from the area. By his teenage years, he was considered a prodigy who had already drawn the attention of Bootsy Collins and B.B. King’s drummer, Tony Coleman. Now 25 with two studio albums and a live album under his belt, Kingfish is in Delaware playing selections from all of them and more.
Special Events
Festival Round-Up
Where: Multiple locations
When: All weekend long
How much: Mostly free
It’s the height of the fall festival season with themes that include art, food and even the Delaware waterfront. Here are some of the top fests this weekend, all happening Saturday:
Black Cannabis Week
Black Cannabis Week has been an annual event since the medical cannabis industry began to blossom in Pennsylvania in 2018. (James Robinson courtesy of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus)
Where: Multiple venues
When: Through Sunday, Sept. 28
How much: Free and up
People of color have been disproportionately victimized by incarceration for minor drug crimes but locked out of the billion-dollar cannabis industry. Now that marijuana has been legalized in several states, there are entrepreneurial opportunities in all aspects of the business. Black Cannabis Week aims to provide more information to those seeking it, and through its Rooted In Justice Film Festival highlight the past and present challenges.
Dinos After Dark: Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
Hispanic Heritage Month continues through Oct. 15. This week, the celebration at the scientific venue will include Hispanic-owned food and drink purveyors, short films selected by the Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival, a conversation with researchers from The Latin Academy and a meet-and-greet with bugs from Latin America.
WHYY 70th Anniversary All Creatures Pet Fest
Where: Peddler’s Village, 100 Peddlers Village, Lahaska, Pa.
When: 12 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28
How much: $10; free for children with one adult paid ticket
“Morning Edition” host Jennifer Lynn is headed to Peddler’s Village to celebrate WHYY’s 70th anniversary and the long-running PBS show “All Creatures Great and Small,” which was rebooted in 2020. At Pet Fest, you can adopt a new pet and find vendors, grooming and veterinary services for one you already have. And if your pet can be leashed or corraled and plays well with others, bring them along — but make sure they have a costume for the pet costume contest!
Delco Horror Haven Invasion Weekend
Where: Media Community Center, 301 N. Jackson St., Media, Pa., Towne House, 117 Veterans Square, Media, Pa.
When: 12 – 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28; 12 – 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29
How much: $7, day one, $15 – $40
Delco Horror Haven was formed by a group of horror fans in the Philly suburbs who wanted the genre to be celebrated locally. Now they’re hosting a two-day event that includes a marketplace with a food truck, guest celebrities and a casual film festival screening 33 short films from seven countries. Organizers say cosplaying as your favorite horror character is not just accepted, it’s encouraged!
Philly AIDS Thrift 19th Anniversary Block Party
Where: Philly AIDS Thrift, 710 S. 5th St.
When: 12 – 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28
How much: Free, pay as you go
Philly AIDS Thrift has been around since 2005, turning discarded clothing, furniture and “junk” into funds that help AIDS organizations. Its annual Block Party turns its storefront and street into a celebration that includes the ever-popular celebrity dunk tank, a pie-eating contest, a dog-kissing booth, Double Dutch Meetup, circus acts and other live performances. The party kicks off the store’s busy Halloween season when thrifters seek vintage decorations, clothing and accessories to create unique costumes.
Ratha Yatra Parade & Street Festival
The Hindu celebration of Ratha Yatra, which draws millions to events around the world, is heading to the Ben Franklin Parkway. The procession, also called the Chariot Festival, honors three Indian deities: Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and their sister Subhadra. Once the procession gets to Eakins Oval, it turns into a celebration that includes a bazaar, yoga sessions, music and vegan food.
Puerto Rican Day Parade
More than a thousand people packed the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Sep. 25, 2022 to celebrate “The Puerto Rican Dreamers” during the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
The island of Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory with its own rich culture that incorporates both American and Caribbean traditions. That will be on display at the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade. Expect music, dance, poetry and a party on the parkway with over 1,500 marchers and even more attendees. You can also watch the parade live on ABC.
Arts & Culture
FirstGlance Film Festival
The four-day film festival brings a slate of independently produced movies to Philadelphia that will be judged during Sunday night’s closing awards ceremony. Before then, there will be 45 films screened by local, national and international filmmakers and an opening night red-carpet event.
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The 39 Steps
Where: Town & Country Players, 4158 York Road, Buckingham, Pa.
When: Friday, Sept. 27 – Saturday, Oct. 12
How much: $22.38
In his heyday, Alfred Hitchcock was viewed as one of the greatest directors of psychological thrillers in film history. One of his films, “The 39 Steps” was adapted into a stage play that puts a comic spin on the film, which was itself adapted from the 1915 book of the same title by John Buchan.
Bicentennial of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour Visits Philadelphia, PA
Where: Multiple venues
When: Friday, Sept. 27 – Sunday, Sept. 29
How much: $15 – $250
The Marquis de Lafayette makes a triumphant return to Philadelphia with a weekend of events commemorating the 200th anniversary of his return to the States, 40 years after leading troops in the American Revolution. OK, that was a mouthful, but the idea is he’s back, via his contemporary stand-in, Mark Schneider of Colonial Williamsburg. He’ll travel through the same 24 states established in 1824 and 1825, in the same order the Marquis did back then. There’s a concert, walking tours and a big party — the Fête Lafayette — at Independence Mall. You can’t say the man wasn’t a big deal! Some ticketed events have sold out already, but others are free and open to the public.
Mural Arts Fest: Roots & Reimagination
Philadelphia’s vaunted Mural Arts program, responsible for more than 4,000 pieces of public art in the city, celebrates its 40th anniversary with, appropriately, a public art festival. There will be DJs, food trucks and of course, art, including mini-murals from the “To the Polls” project.
Food/Drink
Fishtown Fall Feastivale
Fishtown’s biggest annual festival brings 125 bars and restaurants together for a day-long block party that spans several streets. The family-friendly event includes carnival games, a celebrity dunk tank and specially brewed seasonal beers, with local and regional vendors and community groups on the scene. Leashed dogs are welcome.
Philly Beer Fest
If your ideal autumn day includes sampling various beers from around the city and the region, the Philly Beer Fest is the place for you. Two sessions are general admission with an option to come earlier at each via an early admission ticket. But, be warned, choose your preferred time wisely, as organizers are adamant that you can’t attend both sessions. Once inside, food is available on a pay-as-you-go basis. FYI, while there are kid-friendly fests that serve beer, this is not one of them; it’s strictly 21 and up.
Pennsylvania Chocolate & Coffee Festival
Where: The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Ave., Oaks, Pa.
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28; 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29
How much: $4 – $30
Chocolate and coffee together are like peanut butter and jelly — an unbeatable combination. This foodie fest brings you the best of both, with over 100 vendors and (hopefully) unlimited sampling. Scheduled speakers will extol the health benefits of chocolate and coffee, something that should come as a relief to those who regularly indulge in both.
Music
Opening Weekend Philadelphia Orchestra
Where: Kimmel Center, Marian Anderson Hall, 300 S Broad St.
When: 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27; 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28; 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29
How much: $25 – $195
The Philadelphia Orchestra opens this weekend with two matinees and an evening performance, highlighting the combined talents of Philadelphia Orchestra’s Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nezét Séguin, pianist Seong-Jin Cho and composers Beethoven and Bruckner.
Mat Kearney: Headlights Home Tour
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Singer/songwriter Mat Kearney has accomplished a rare feat with over 2.5 billion streams of his eight studio albums. The Oregon-born artist’s most recent album came out in May, and he’s on the road in support of it, stopping through suburban Philly this weekend
Michael Kiwanuka & Brittany Howard
Brittany Howard performs during the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival on Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Manchester, Tenn. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Former Alabama Shakes frontwoman Brittany Howard’s new project “What Now” reflects the eclectic musical choices that have taken her to solo stardom. British singer/songwriter Michael Kiwanuka has received international acclaim after just four albums. His latest, “Small Changes” is coming out Nov. 15, and he’s just earned his first #1 single on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart with “Floating Parade.” They’re supporting both of their projects at the Met stage this weekend.
Chick-fil-A reportedly launching its own streaming platform
The fast food chain has been expanding its footprint in various industries, including children’s games and animations.
Yes, Delaware, you’re getting another Chick-fil-A.
On Thursday, Oct. 3, the newest location of the cultishly popular fried chicken spot will open at 4008 N. Dupont Highway, just south of Wilmington near Minquadale.
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The opening date underscores Chick-Fil-A’s ever-increasing speed at plunking down new locations. It was just four months ago that construction fencing first came up on North Dupont Highway, in front of a self-storage facility.
The new location will be 5,400 square feet, according to plans submitted with the county, with two drive-thru lanes – a feature that’s become commonplace at fast food restaurants across the country to accommodate advance orders from phone apps and delivery websites. Chick-fil-A’s dedicated phone-app lane is called Mobile Thru.
A nearby Chick-fil-A location at Governor’s Square in Bear has also submitted plans with the county to demolish and rebuild with a double-drive thru.
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Even before opening, the location has been busy.
The North Dupont Chick-fil-A has been busy delivering 50 Chick-fil-A sandwiches a day to nearby businesses, after a Facebook contest designed to test out potential delivery sites.
The first winner was apparently the staff of Wilmington Airport, who called it their “clucky day” in an Instagram post last week, while posing for a picture alongside North Dupont franchisee Angelo Santos.
When it opens, the North Dupont location will be Delaware’s 16th location and also the closest Chick-fil-A to the city limits of Wilmington, which remains Chickless.
The new restaurant will bring 130 new jobs, according to a company press release, and plans to participate in a Chick-fil-A Shared Table program donating surplus food to shelters, food banks, soup kitchens and other nonprofits.
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North Dupont’s franchisee, Angelo Santos, grew up in the Delaware County town of Ridley and held down his first job at Chick-fil-A at the age of 16.
A decade later, he wrote, he’s a franchise owner in Delaware.
“I am most looking forward to being a beacon of hope in the New Castle community,” Santos wrote in a statement. “I want to bring real change by providing career opportunities and leadership growth to my team members.”
In celebration of the North Dupont opening, parent Chick-fil-A, Inc. has donated $25,000 to nonprofit Feeding America, which partners with the Food Bank of Delaware. The restaurant will also award a prize of free Chick-fil-A entrees for a year to 100 “local heroes” making an impact in the New Castle area.
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Chick-Fil-A will open on Oct. 3 at 4008 N. Dupont Highway. Hours are 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Drive-thru open until 10 p.m. Details at chick-fil-a.com.
