Hunter Biden, the son of President Biden, unexpectedly pleaded guilty to tax charges on Thursday, just before jury selection was set to begin for his federal criminal trial in Los Angeles. This plea change likely spared him and his family from a lengthy and painful legal battle that would include revealing details from his past struggles with crack cocaine addiction.
The case focused on Hunter Biden’s failure to pay $1.4 million in taxes from 2016 to 2019, during which he lived an “extravagant lifestyle,” according to prosecutors. His expenditures included lavish spending on escorts, luxury hotels, and a membership at a sex club.
In the courtroom, U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi questioned Biden about his guilt regarding the charges in the indictment. Biden affirmed this, responding “yes” when asked if he committed each crime listed. The judge accepted his plea and scheduled sentencing for December 16.
This guilty plea follows a jury’s recent conviction of Hunter Biden on federal gun charges, with sentencing in that case set for November 13. Both cases were pursued by Justice Department special counsel David Weiss.
In his statement, Biden expressed remorse for the distress the Delaware trial had caused his family and stated he did not want to subject them to further suffering. He reflected on how the focus of the prosecution seemed to be on dehumanizing him rather than achieving justice. “For all I have put them through over the years, I can spare them this, and so I have decided to plead guilty,” he mentioned.
The surprise plea reportedly took prosecutors off guard, as they were unaware of the decision until Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, announced it shortly before jury selection was to commence. After a break to consider their options, prosecutors and Lowell engaged in discussions regarding the plea’s nature.
Hunter Biden faced nine charges in the Los Angeles case, which included three felonies related to tax evasion and filing false returns. The indictment, read in court, detailed his tax evasion over a four-year span, highlighting how he misappropriated funds on personal luxuries rather than paying his taxes.
The charges stem from a time when he was grappling with addiction issues following the death of his brother, Beau Biden. The indictment detailed numerous personal expenses that he incorrectly classified as business expenses, such as payments for escorts, extravagant hotel stays, and rent for his daughter’s residence.
Just a year prior, Hunter Biden seemed close to avoiding trial entirely, having reached a tentative deal with prosecutors that would allow him to plead guilty to tax charges and qualify for a diversion agreement regarding gun offenses. However, that agreement fell apart during a federal court proceeding, leading to the current developments.
As the legal battles unfold, questions persist about the political ramifications for President Biden, especially as Hunter’s legal troubles could pose challenges amid the ongoing 2024 election cycle. However, with President Biden no longer pursuing reelection, concerns over the political impact of his son’s issues have diminished. Additionally, the White House maintained the stance that the president would not grant a pardon to his son.