Legal expert Jonathan Turley discussed the Hunter Biden plea deal on "America's Newsroom," highlighting the controversy surrounding the seemingly lenient charges in the context of broader influence-peddling allegations. The deal addresses tax and gun charges, but questions remain about whether the investigation fully explored the potentially more serious issue of influence peddling.

Turley characterized the case as relatively minor, raising concerns about a potential two-tiered justice system, particularly given public perception surrounding the Donald Trump indictment. He noted that many Americans believe Trump's indictment was politically motivated, and the Hunter Biden plea deal could further erode public trust in the Department of Justice. The relatively minor charges against the president's son, compared to the gravity of potential influence-peddling accusations, could be seen as a stark contrast.

The core issue, according to Turley, is whether the U.S. Attorney in Delaware was granted full authority to investigate the influence-peddling aspect of Hunter Biden's activities. The source of the millions of dollars Hunter Biden earned, and the potential connections to his father's position, are central to these concerns. The plea deal's focus on tax and gun charges might sidestep the most damaging allegations.

The plea deal involves guilty pleas to two misdemeanor counts of willful failure to pay federal income tax and a pretrial diversion agreement for a gun charge related to drug use. The U.S. Attorney's office confirmed Hunter Biden earned over $1.5 million annually in 2017 and 2018 but failed to pay over $100,000 in taxes each year. The firearm charge stems from Hunter Biden's possession of a gun while being a drug user.

The conclusion of this case could also impact Congress's access to information, as the Department of Justice might have fewer grounds to withhold material related to an ongoing investigation involving Hunter Biden.