Trump-appointed judge who had Democratic support will oversee Hunter Biden plea on July 26
Originally Published: 21 JUN 23 12:45 ET
Updated: 21 JUN 23 17:19 ET
By Tierney Sneed and Marshall Cohen, CNN
(CNN) — Federal district Judge Maryellen Noreika, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, will preside over the case that Justice Department brought against President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden.
Biden’s plea hearing is scheduled for July 26 at 10 a.m. ET.
Noreika, a former patent lawyer in Delaware, had the support of both Democratic senators from Delaware when she was nominated by Trump. Under the Senate’s so-called blue slip tradition, nominees for district court seats must have the support of the home state senators to move forward.
She was confirmed by the Senate by voice vote in August 2018.
The Justice Department announced Tuesday that Hunter Biden will plead guilty to two tax misdemeanors and struck a deal to resolve a felony gun charge.
As part of the plea agreement, the Justice Department has agreed to recommend a sentence of probation for the two counts of failing to pay taxes in a timely matter, according to sources. A judge would have the final say on any sentence, however.
Campaign donations
Federal records indicate that Noreika has donated more than $15,000 to political candidates dating back to 1999. Her political spending has gone to both parties.
On the presidential level, she gave $1,000 to then-New York Sen. Hillary Clinton’s 2008 campaign for the Democratic nomination. She later donated $2,300 to the eventual 2008 Republican nominee, then-Arizona Sen. John McCain. She donated to the subsequent GOP nominee as well, giving $2,500 to Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign in 2012.
Noreika also financially supported Sen. Tom Cotton, a conservative Republican from Arkansas, during his campaign in 2014, when he unseated an incumbent Democratic senator. And she donated $1,000 to Pennsylvania GOP Sen. Rick Santorum in 2005.
She also donated $1,000 in 2009 to the Senate Democrats’ campaign arm, the DSCC.
This story has been updated with additional details.
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