Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, has offered to plead guilty in a federal tax evasion case. This move surprised federal prosecutors who were ready to start his trial. Initially, Hunter Biden denied accusations of intentionally not paying $1.4 million in taxes from 2016 to 2019. He first wanted to enter an Alford plea, which means accepting the charges but not admitting guilt. However, prosecutors didn’t agree with this. According to CBS News, which is a partner of the BBC, Biden then said he would simply plead guilty, but the prosecutors opposed this offer too.
The surprise announcement happened in a Los Angeles courtroom on Thursday, just before jury selection. This could lead to his second criminal conviction this year. Hunter Biden’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, said his client wanted the trial to end quickly to protect his family and friends from having to testify about events that occurred when Biden was struggling with drug addiction. When asked by Judge Mark Scarsi if he understood that he could face up to 15 years in prison, Hunter Biden replied, “I do.” The judge also mentioned that the fines could be between $500,000 and $1 million.
President Joe Biden has stated that he won’t use his executive powers to pardon his son. Prosecutors, representing President Biden’s Justice Department, were surprised by the Alford plea suggestion and were hesitant to accept a deal where Hunter Biden could maintain his innocence. According to BBC’s reporting, lead prosecutor Leo Wise stated in court, “Hunter Biden is not innocent. Hunter Biden is guilty.”
Hunter Biden had earlier tried to get the case dismissed, arguing that the investigation was politically motivated because Republicans are working to impeach his father.
He also claimed that the special counsel, David Weiss, was appointed unlawfully, but these arguments were rejected by Judge Scarsi, a Trump appointee who is overseeing the case.
Hunter Biden faces charges related to failing to pay taxes, tax evasion, and filing false returns. The indictment says he earned $7 million from foreign business deals between 2016 and 2019 but spent nearly $5 million during that time on personal luxuries like drugs, escorts, and luxury items. According to the BBC, prosecutors argue that Biden had enough money to pay his taxes but chose not to.
This tax evasion trial is the second federal criminal case Hunter Biden has faced this year. In June, he was found guilty of charges related to gun possession and drug use.
Specifically, he was convicted of buying a revolver in 2018 while struggling with drug addiction and lying about his drug use on a federal form to purchase the gun.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr5n926n6n0o