Hunter Biden’s legal team was angry and dejected late Wednesday after a plea deal to help the president’s son avoid prison blew up in a chaotic, three-hour court hearing.

Why it matters: Judge Maryellen Noreika’s rejection of Biden’s plea deal on tax charges ensures that legal issues will continue to shadow Biden just as Republicans on Capitol Hill are turning up the heat in investigating him and his father.

Wednesday’s hearing also revealed a disconnect between Biden’s lawyers and prosecutors over the terms of the plea deal — and even subtle divisions among those on Biden’s side.

Zoom in: Hours after the hearing, Biden’s team was still fuming, suggesting that Noreika seemed intent on not letting the plea agreement go forward after deliberately questioning lawyers on both sides about the terms of the deal.

[I can’t. Stop. GRINNING. ~ Beege]