In a dramatic turn of events, Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, is expected to plead guilty to federal tax charges. This shocking development came to light during the start of his trial in Los Angeles, where jury selection was underway.
Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, announced the plea change in court on Thursday, stating that his client intends to switch his plea to guilty. This contradicts Biden’s initial plea of not guilty. The announcement stunned federal prosecutors, who expressed their surprise at the unexpected development.
The charges against Biden, brought by special counsel David Weiss, involve three felonies and six misdemeanors related to $1.4 million in unpaid taxes. These charges allege that Biden engaged in a four-year scheme to avoid paying taxes, stretching from 2016 to 2019. The indictment further accuses him of filing false tax returns in 2020.
The prosecution asserts that Biden withdrew millions of dollars from his company, Owasco PC, outside of the regular payroll and tax withholding process. These funds were allegedly used to fund an extravagant lifestyle rather than paying his tax obligations.
This trial marks the second time this year that Hunter Biden has faced charges stemming from Weiss’ investigation. In June, he was found guilty on all counts in Delaware for charges related to a firearm purchase. These charges involved a false statement made during the purchase, providing false information to a licensed firearm dealer, and possession of a firearm by an illegal drug user.
The maximum potential prison sentence for all of the combined charges against Hunter Biden could reach 25 years, along with a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. President Biden has stated that he will not pardon his son.
This case continues to garner significant attention, as it involves the son of the sitting president and raises questions about potential conflicts of interest and political influence.
