Hunter Biden's top criminal attorney, Christopher Clark, has requested to withdraw as Biden's counsel in his tax evasion and gun-possession case. This decision comes after the collapse of a plea agreement Clark had negotiated with prosecutors.

Clark has expressed his intention to become a witness in the case, as the plea agreement and diversion agreement on tax charges and gun possession are expected to be contested. Clark's motion to withdraw was filed on August 16 in federal court in Delaware. Despite Clark's departure, Biden will still be represented by other attorneys, including Abbe Lowell.

U.S. Attorney David Weiss, who has overseen the investigation of President Joe Biden's son for the past five years, has been appointed as a special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland. The collapse of the plea agreement occurred during a hearing on July 26, when U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika denied Hunter Biden's plea deal with prosecutors.

Noreika had concerns about certain conditions of the agreement, including the immunity from future criminal charges sought by Biden's legal team. The judge's decision allows for the possibility of additional charges against Hunter Biden outside of his legal area. President Joe Biden has distanced himself from his son's legal troubles, emphasizing his love and pride for him.

The plea agreement has faced criticism from Republicans, who view it as a "sweetheart deal" and are conducting their own investigations into Biden's business dealings and the Justice Department's handling of the case. The initial plea agreement required Biden to plead guilty to failing to pay taxes on over $1.5 million in income in 2017 and 2018, with probation instead of jail time.

A separate arrangement was made to avoid prosecution for the felony offense of being a drug user in possession of a pistol if Biden stayed out of trouble for two years. Biden has pleaded not guilty to the tax evasion charges, which accuse him of not paying over $100,000 in taxes.

He also faces a separate charge for possessing a firearm in 2018 as a drug user. The case continues to unfold as new developments arise, and the legal representation for Hunter Biden adjusts with the withdrawal of Christopher Clark from his counsel.