From a Wall Street Journal column by Ben Zimmer headlined “‘Sweetheart Deal’: From Romantic Nickname to Corruption Claim”:

Last week, a federal judge rejected a plea deal negotiated between Hunter Biden and the Justice Department that would have allowed the president’s son to plead guilty on misdemeanor tax charges while likely avoiding prison time and sidestepping a gun charge.

Critics of President Biden lauded the development, calling the quashed plea agreement a “sweetheart deal.” IRS whistleblower Joseph Ziegler wrote in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece, “Sweetheart deals shouldn’t be handed out like candy to the rich, powerful and politically connected.” Democrats countered that the Justice Department didn’t give the younger Biden preferential treatment.