Hunter Biden Pleads Guilty to Tax Charges, Avoids Trial

Hunter Biden, the second son of President Joe Biden, entered a guilty plea to all charges against him in a federal court in Los Angeles on Thursday. This unexpected decision came moments before jury selection was set to commence, thus allowing him to avoid a trial.

Biden was facing nine misdemeanor and felony offenses linked to his failure to pay approximately $1.4 million in federal taxes. Prosecutors alleged that Biden used this money to finance a lavish lifestyle over several years.

His attorney, Abbe Lowell, informed U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi that the decision to plead guilty was made as the court had previously ruled that discussions of Biden’s past traumas related to drug abuse would not be permitted during the trial.

This plea follows a previous attempt by Biden to enter an Alford plea, where a defendant pleads guilty while still claiming innocence. Prosecutors opposed this move, arguing that it was not in the public interest, which led to Biden ultimately entering an open plea.

In court, Biden confirmed that he agreed to the facts of the indictment, acknowledging the elements of each offense. His plea spares him from a public trial, where prosecutors were prepared to present over two dozen witnesses, some of whom might have disclosed sensitive and damaging testimony about his drug use and spending habits.

The charges against Biden involved a scheme purportedly spanning four years during which he is said to have evaded federal taxes for the years 2016 through 2019. The indictment highlighted that funds, which should have been allocated towards taxes, were instead spent on personal indulgences including drugs, escorts, and luxury accommodations.

Hunter Biden’s previous attempt to resolve related charges in Delaware fell apart last year when a judge expressed concerns regarding the terms of the plea agreement. As a result, Biden was indicted on expanded charges in California, with a separate conviction for a gun-related offense also pending.