Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, is facing more legal trouble as federal prosecutors have charged him with not paying around $1.4 million in federal taxes from 2016 to 2019.
This is the second case against him, with the first being federal firearm charges.
The new charges include failure to file and pay taxes, false tax return, and evasion of assessment. Hunter Biden’s lawyer claims the charges are politically motivated.
If convicted, he could face up to 17 years in prison. The indictment alleges that he spent money on drugs, escorts, luxury items, and more, instead of paying taxes.
The tax issue is separate from an impeachment inquiry by congressional Republicans into President Biden, focusing on Hunter’s business dealings.
The White House has not commented on the charges. The investigation into Hunter Biden began in 2019, and prosecutors claim he had access to funds to pay his taxes but willfully failed to do so.
Despite his extravagant spending, he eventually paid his taxes in 2020 with the help of a loan from his attorney. The indictment details his expenditures, including significant amounts on adult entertainment and payments to various women.
Hunter Biden’s legal troubles also include previous federal firearm charges. The impeachment inquiry suggests a connection between President Biden and his son’s business dealings, which the White House denies.
The tax charges add to the ongoing controversies surrounding Hunter Biden and his financial activities. The indictment outlines how Hunter allegedly wrote off personal expenses as business expenses and spent lavishly despite having the means to pay his taxes.
Earlier expectations of him pleading guilty to misdemeanor tax charges fell apart, leading to the current legal proceedings.
Internal Revenue Service whistleblowers had previously claimed that Hunter received lenient treatment due to his connection to the president.
Congressional Republicans view the indictment as vindication of their concerns about Hunter Biden’s financial conduct.
The federal gun charges, filed in September, relate to Hunter being in possession of a gun while using drugs. He pleaded not guilty to these charges.
The overall situation underscores the complex legal and political challenges facing the Biden family.
Source: BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67656575