Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, pleaded guilty on Thursday to nine federal tax-related charges, potentially facing up to 17 years in prison and $1.35 million in fines. The plea came after a dramatic day of legal maneuvering in a Los Angeles courtroom, as reported by ABC News.
US District Judge Mark Scarsi accepted Biden's guilty plea on all charges stemming from a December indictment. The charges include six misdemeanor counts of failure to pay taxes, one felony tax evasion charge, and two felony charges of filing false returns. Sentencing is scheduled for December 16.
The unexpected plea deal came just moments before jury selection was set to begin for what was anticipated to be a weeks-long trial. Biden's attorney, Abbe Lowell, initially proposed an Alford plea, which would have allowed Biden to plead guilty without admitting to the underlying conduct. However, when prosecutors objected, and Judge Scarsi expressed hesitation, Biden's legal team opted for a traditional guilty plea. "Mr. Biden is prepared to proceed today and finish this," Lowell stated in court.
Prosecutors had accused Biden of engaging in a four-year scheme to avoid paying $1.4 million in taxes while spending lavishly on luxury items, including exotic cars, clothing, escorts, drugs, and high-end hotels.
🚨 #BREAKING: Hunter Biden will be pleading GUILTY to federal tax crimes today, including multiple felonies
He faces up to 17 years in prison.
BUT he knows daddy will pardon him on his way out the door, so what's it matter? 🙄 pic.twitter.com/XJLihyWc3X
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 5, 2024
The guilty plea marks a significant turn in a legal saga that has been characterized by unexpected developments. It also raises questions about the possibility of a presidential pardon, despite President Biden's previous assurances that he would not grant clemency to his son.
When asked by Judge Scarsi if he agreed to having committed every element of the crimes alleged in the indictment, Hunter Biden responded, "Yes," before pleading guilty to each count.
The plea deal allows Biden to avoid a potentially embarrassing trial that would have likely delved into his struggles with drug addiction and scrutinized his overseas business dealings. This development comes after Judge Scarsi recently rejected Biden's latest attempt to dismiss the tax-related charges.
