Hunter Biden, son of Joe Biden, unexpectedly pleads guilty in tax evasion case | US News
Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, has pleaded guilty to federal tax charges.
In a surprising turn of events, the plea deal was made to avoid a potentially embarrassing trial close to the presidential election.
Hunter Biden, aged 54, was facing criminal charges for failing to pay $1.4m (£1.06m) in taxes, allegedly spending extravagantly on drugs, sex workers, and luxury items.
Instead of going to trial, he admitted to all nine counts to spare his family from further distress and unnecessary embarrassment.
Judge Mark Scarsi informed him that he could face up to 17 years in prison and up to $450,000 (£341,000) in fines, though there may be requests for a shorter sentence.
His sentencing is scheduled for December 16, over a month after the election on November 5, in which his father will not be a candidate after withdrawing.
Hunter Biden leaving the LA court with wife Melissa. Pic: Reuters
Earlier on Thursday, he had offered to plead guilty without admitting guilt, a legal move opposed by prosecutors.
“We are unsure of their intentions,” remarked one prosecutor to the judge.
‘I was thinking about surviving’
In a statement, Hunter Biden acknowledged his struggles with drug addiction and indicated that prosecutors seemed more focused on demeaning him for his actions during that period rather than seeking justice.
“Like many Americans, I failed to file and pay my taxes on time. I take full responsibility for that. Addiction is not an excuse, but it does help explain some of the failures in this case,” he stated.
“During my addiction, my focus was on surviving, not on tax obligations. However, the jury would not have known that I eventually paid all my back taxes, including penalties.”
He also shared that he has been sober for over five years now, thanks to the love and support of his family, and he wanted to shield them from public humiliation due to his past mistakes.
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Firearm conviction
In June, Hunter Biden was convicted of three firearm charges in the first criminal prosecution of a sitting US president’s offspring.
Prosecutors alleged that he provided false information when purchasing a gun in October 2018, falsely denying any drug use despite a crack cocaine problem.
He is appealing this conviction, which could potentially impact his sentencing in the tax case as a repeat offender.
The tax indictment accused Hunter Biden of evading taxes from 2016 to 2019 while spending lavish amounts on drugs, escorts, luxury accommodations, cars, clothing, and other personal items.
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The trial would have also shed light on his involvement with Burisma, a Ukrainian natural gas company, as well as other business dealings during his father’s vice-presidency.
The indictment stated that Hunter Biden earned substantial amounts while serving on the boards of Burisma and a Chinese private equity fund.
Republicans, the opposition party to the Democrats, have alleged corruption in his activities, though Hunter Biden denies any improper business dealings, and investigations by Republicans have not linked the president to any wrongdoing.
