Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, entered a guilty plea on Thursday in a tax evasion case, a development that has drawn significant attention and fueled political controversy. The 54-year-old admitted to nine counts related to failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes over the past decade. Prosecutors alleged that Biden had spent the money on luxury living, sex workers, and his ongoing struggles with drug addiction.
The plea came on the day jury selection for a trial was set to begin. Earlier in the day, Biden had expressed his desire to plead guilty in hopes of striking a deal that might prevent him from serving jail time. However, no deal materialized, and Biden ultimately entered the pleas in open court. US District Judge Mark Scarsi scheduled the sentencing for December 16. Biden faces a maximum sentence of 17 years in prison and a potential fine exceeding $1 million.
This case has been a source of embarrassment for President Biden, who has repeatedly acknowledged his son’s struggles with addiction and the turmoil it has caused within the family. A trial, had it proceeded, would have likely delved into the details of Hunter Biden’s troubled past, something both he and his family have sought to avoid.
“I will not subject my family to more pain, more invasions of privacy and needless embarrassment,” Biden said in a statement, as reported by US media. “Prosecutors were focused not on justice but on dehumanizing me for my actions during my addiction.”
Hunter Biden has already faced legal troubles in 2024, having been convicted in Delaware of lying about his drug use when purchasing a firearm – a felony offense. He is yet to be sentenced for this crime and could face a maximum of 25 years in prison. While President Biden has the power to pardon his son, he has repeatedly stated that he will not do so.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated this stance on Thursday, stating, “It is still very much a ‘no.'”
The case has become a focal point for political battle lines, with Republicans accusing Hunter Biden of receiving preferential treatment due to his father’s presidency. Biden’s legal team has countered these allegations, arguing that the prosecution is solely motivated by his family ties.
“They want to slime him because that is the whole purpose,” Biden’s attorney Mark Geragos reportedly said during an August hearing, accusing prosecutors of attempted character assassination.
Biden’s defense has maintained that the non-payment of taxes was an oversight amidst the chaos of his drug addiction and the trauma of losing his older brother, Beau, to a brain tumor in 2015. Biden has since paid the back taxes, as well as any penalties levied by authorities.
Initially, a plea deal had been reached that would have kept him out of jail. However, this agreement fell through at the last minute, and Biden has been attempting to negotiate another deal since then. This has been a difficult process for prosecutors, who are facing intense scrutiny from Republicans in this election year.
The accusations of preferential treatment have been fueled by years of attacks from President Biden’s political opponents, who have sought to portray the Biden family as corrupt and wealthy due to Joe Biden’s career. These accusations have been made without evidence.
Despite these pressures, prosecutors have shown reluctance to extend leniency to Hunter Biden. On Thursday morning, Biden attempted to enter an “Alford plea,” which acknowledges guilt due to the high probability of conviction while maintaining innocence. However, prosecutors rejected this plea.
“I want to make crystal clear: the US opposes an Alford plea,” prosecutor Leo Wise told the court. “Hunter Biden is not innocent, he is guilty.”
In his statement, Biden, who resides in Malibu, acknowledged his drug addiction, saying, “It is not an excuse, but it is an explanation for some of my failures at issue in this case.”
He also expressed gratitude to his family for their support during his recovery: “I have been clean and sober for more than five years because I have had the love and support of my family. I can never repay them for showing up for me and helping me through my worst moments. But I can protect them from being publicly humiliated for my failures.”
