Hunter Biden, the son of U.S. President Joe Biden, has pleaded guilty to all nine counts in a federal tax evasion case, catching prosecutors off guard as they prepared to start his trial. The plea deal was unexpectedly reached in a Los Angeles court on Thursday, just as jury selection was set to commence.
Biden, 54, had previously denied allegations of intentionally evading $1.4 million in income taxes between 2016 and 2019. Initially, he sought a plea deal in which he would admit to the charges while maintaining his innocence. However, after federal prosecutors objected, Biden opted to plead guilty without conditions.
This development follows Biden’s recent conviction in a separate case related to gun possession and drug use, making him the first son of a sitting U.S. president to be criminally convicted. His plea in the tax case represents a significant shift just as the trial was about to begin.
Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, stated that the decision to forego a trial was made to protect Biden’s friends and family from being dragged into court to discuss matters linked to his past drug addiction. “For the sake of private interest,” Lowell explained, Biden chose to plead guilty and avoid a lengthy trial process.
Judge Mark Scarsi announced that Biden, in pleading guilty, faces a maximum penalty of 17 years in prison and fines ranging from $500,000 to $1 million. Sentencing is scheduled for December 16, a month after the upcoming White House election and just before President Biden’s term concludes.
In a notable detail, during Thursday’s hearing, Biden walked past a portrait of his father, President Joe Biden, which hangs in every federal courthouse. Accompanied by his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, and a Secret Service detail, Biden was visibly affected by the gravity of the moment.
The prosecution, representing the Department of Justice, expressed surprise at the plea deal, particularly as it did not include a provision for Biden to maintain his innocence. Lead prosecutor Leo Wise criticized the plea deal, asserting that Biden was “not entitled to special terms” and firmly stated, “Hunter Biden is not innocent. Hunter Biden is guilty.”
The unexpected plea deal and the subsequent reactions from both sides underscore the high stakes and political sensitivities surrounding the case. As Hunter Biden prepares for sentencing, the outcome will undoubtedly remain a point of intense public and political scrutiny.
