After meeting with Biden for 30 minutes, Lowell informed the Court that his client would enter a straight guilty plea instead of an Alford plea: //

So if the court believes that you have discretion to reject an Alford plea, we will go forward with an open plea. //

"He was entitled to a trial today, and that’s what we would have given him. So if he chooses to not exercise that right, he should be forced to say that it’s true."

After those arguments, Scarsi said:

“We’re going to take an open plea. I’m going to ask Mr. Biden if you’ve committed conduct that you believe satisfies each of the offenses as charged in the indictment.” //

Wise had informed Lowell that if Biden pled guilty, Wise planned to read the entire indictment as the government’s factual basis, and followed through on that promise. Lowell objected and said they’d stipulate to the factual basis so the long document wouldn’t need to be read aloud, but Scarsi asked Wise to continue as a precaution to ensure there is appropriate transparency and sufficiency for the public interest.

After the indictment was read, Scarsi asked Biden:

"Do you agree that you committed every element of every crime charged in counts 1-9 of the indictment?"

Biden replied, "Yes." //

Biden was then asked how he pled to each individual count and answered, "Guilty" to each one. //

Just Jim
15 hours ago
He's doing this because he doesn't want evidence presented that would become public and lead to further investigation into their money laundering scheme.

Jennifer Van Laar Just Jim
11 hours ago
Exactly. Lowell said in court (and I think I referred to it there) that after the unfavorable rulings in the motions hearing, they, ah, felt this was their best option. They wanted a lot of things suppressed that weren't going to be suppressed.