Hunter Biden Pleads Guilty to Tax Charges, Avoids Trial

Los Angeles, CA – In a surprising turn of events, Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to federal tax charges on Thursday, avoiding a highly anticipated trial that would have exposed details of his past business dealings and lifestyle choices. The guilty plea came as jury selection was set to begin in a Los Angeles federal court.

Initially, Biden’s legal team presented an unusual proposal where the president’s son would maintain his innocence while acknowledging that sufficient evidence existed for a guilty verdict, known as an Alford plea. However, federal prosecutors, led by special counsel David Weiss, rejected the deal, insisting that Biden admit his guilt. “Hunter Biden is not innocent. Hunter Biden is guilty,” stated prosecutor Leo Wise to U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi, a Trump appointee overseeing the case.

Following a brief recess, Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, announced that his client would enter a guilty plea without formal agreement with the prosecution. Lowell emphasized that Biden’s decision to plead guilty was to avoid a public trial and “protect those he loves from unnecessary hurt.”

The charges, which stemmed from Biden’s failure to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019, carried a potential sentence of up to 17 years in prison and fines exceeding $1 million. The charges included three felonies and six misdemeanors related to his failure to file tax returns and pay taxes during a period of drug-fueled excess. The trial was expected to scrutinize his lavish spending on drugs, escorts, and luxury accommodations, which prosecutors argued he attempted to deduct as business expenses.

In addition to the tax evasion charges, prosecutors alleged Biden concealed income from foreign business dealings, including ties to a Romanian real estate mogul and his involvement with the Chinese energy company CEFC and the Ukrainian gas company Burisma.

Outside of court, Lowell acknowledged that the criminal case had been a difficult period for the Biden family. As part of the proceedings, family members, including President Biden, could have been called as witnesses, adding to the strain.

The court has set sentencing for Dec. 16, just weeks before President Biden is expected to leave office. While Hunter Biden faces additional legal challenges, including a separate gun-related conviction in Delaware, President Biden has publicly stated he will not use his clemency powers to pardon his son. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated that position on Thursday.

By Midtown Times Staff | Source: AP News  | Information courtesy of the Associated Press