Hunter Biden has reached a plea agreement in his federal tax evasion case, catching federal prosecutors off guard as they arrived in court prepared for trial.
The president’s son previously denied any wrongdoing regarding accusations of intentionally evading $1.4 million in income tax between 2016 and 2019. His unexpected decision to plead guilty was first communicated in a Los Angeles courtroom just as jury selection was set to commence, potentially leading to his second criminal conviction this year.
When Judge Mark Scarsi inquired if Biden understood that he could face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, he affirmed, “I do.” The judge also cautioned Biden that he could face fines ranging from $500,000 to $1 million.
Biden’s attorney stated that his client sought to conclude the trial proceedings to protect his family and friends from having to testify about events connected to Biden’s past struggles with addiction. Initially, Biden expressed interest in an Alford plea—which would allow him to accept the charges while maintaining his innocence. However, after the prosecution raised objections, he ultimately decided against this strategy.
Prosecutors, representing the Justice Department, expressed their astonishment at the suggestion of an Alford plea, emphasizing that it contradicted the accusations. “Hunter Biden is not innocent. Hunter Biden is guilty,” the lead prosecutor stated in court.
Following the presentation of a 56-page indictment outlining the charges, Biden is expected to formally plead guilty. He had previously attempted to dismiss the case by asserting that the investigation was politically motivated and aimed at impeaching his father. Furthermore, he challenged the legitimacy of the special counsel overseeing the case.
These claims were rejected by Judge Scarsi, who is currently assessing whether to accept Biden’s new plea. Biden was indicted on three felony tax offences and six misdemeanour charges last December, including failure to file taxes, tax evasion, and filing a false tax return.
According to the indictment, Biden amassed $7 million from foreign business deals during the relevant period but spent nearly $5 million on various expenses unrelated to taxes, including luxury items falsely categorized as business expenses. Prosecutors labeled his actions as a “four-year scheme,” noting that he had ample funds available to meet his tax obligations but chose not to do so.
This plea agreement comes as Biden faces his second federal criminal proceeding this year. In June, he was convicted on charges related to gun possession and drug use, marking a significant legal milestone as the first criminally convicted son of a sitting U.S. president. The jury found Biden guilty on three felony counts linked to a 2018 firearm purchase while he was grappling with drug addiction.
