On September 5, 2024, Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges, averting a trial scheduled for the same day in Los Angeles. The plea follows a series of legal challenges, including a recent conviction on felony gun charges. By pleading guilty, Biden acknowledged that sufficient evidence existed for a conviction but maintained his claim of innocence.
Biden, 54, faced accusations of failing to pay $1.4 million in federal taxes between 2016 and 2019, linked to income from foreign business ventures. The indictment included two felony counts of filing false tax returns and one count of tax evasion. Prosecutors alleged that Biden misrepresented personal expenses, including spending on drugs, escorts, and luxury goods, as business deductions.
Initially, Biden’s legal team proposed an Alford plea, allowing him to plead guilty while asserting his innocence, but prosecutors opposed this strategy. As a result, Biden agreed to a standard guilty plea. He now faces up to 17 years in prison, with sentencing set for December 16, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi, appointed by former President Donald Trump, will preside over the sentencing, which has no prior agreement with prosecutors. Scarsi hinted that Biden could face substantial penalties, including fines up to $1.3 million, noting that without a plea deal, the sentence remains uncertain.
Biden’s attorney, Mark Geragos, highlighted his client’s struggles with substance abuse and personal trauma, arguing that these issues should be factored into the sentencing decision.
Hunter Biden’s legal troubles have been a focal point for Republicans seeking to connect his actions to President Joe Biden’s political career. However, investigations have not produced evidence linking the President to his son’s business dealings. The White House has consistently stated that President Biden will not intervene or offer a pardon.
Hunter Biden is also set to attend a separate sentencing hearing on November 13, 2024, for his prior gun-related convictions.
