Theatrics of defense counsel and prosecutors fall flat in a court of law where the judge is the only party doing her job responsibly.

Hunter Biden Plea Deal in Limbo After Judge Questions Terms | Bloomberg |

Throughout the hearing, diverging views emerged between Biden's lawyers and prosecutors regarding the scope of the immunity that would be granted to Biden under the agreement.

Under the original deal, Biden had intended to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax crimes committed in 2017 and 2018. Additionally, he was poised to enter into an agreement with federal prosecutors to avoid prison on a charge for possessing a gun while addicted to an illegal drug.

The lack of resolution means that Hunter Biden's case will continue to hang over President Biden as he runs for a second term. It will also fuel politically charged investigations into Biden family business dealings.

Biden's lawyers and federal prosecutors come to a revised agreement for the deal to apply only to misdemeanor tax crimes and a firearm violation between the years 2014 to 2019. Meanwhile, prosecutors said they are still investigating Biden and could charge him with other crimes not covered by the plea deal.

But the hearing was temporarily halted when Noreika said she didn't understand what Hunter Biden could still be charged with. She asked questions that exposed a misunderstanding between Justice Department prosecutors and Biden's lawyer, Chris Clark.

"I don't really understand the scope" of the agreement's immunity provisions, Noreika said. She noted that Biden has had numerous foreign business dealings. At one point, she raised a hypothetical as to whether Biden could be charged as acting as an unregistered foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

Leo Wise, an assistant US attorney representing the government at the hearing, said that Biden could still be charged with a FARA violation. His statement prompted an objection from Clark.

Noreika asked the prosecutors and defense lawyers to resolve their differences about the plea agreement and temporarily adjourned the hearing. The two sides were asked to submit briefs within 30 days.