Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, has surprisingly pleaded guilty to various tax crimes in the case against him. This was reported unanimously by various American media on Thursday from the court in Los Angeles. The 54-year-old thus avoids a trial.
At the start of the hearing in Los Angeles, Hunter Biden initially surprised the court with a new legal move, offering an unusual deal to the judiciary. Specifically, he proposed a deal to the judiciary in which the defendant would plead not guilty in the traditional sense, but at the same time acknowledge that the evidence in the case would likely lead to a guilty verdict. The prosecution, however, rejected this offer.
Trial averted with admission of guilt
This was followed by Biden’s – also surprising – classic admission of guilt. He had previously pleaded not guilty in the case. With his about-face, he has now averted a trial in which further sensitive details of his business and personal life would have been made public.
In December, Hunter Biden was charged with multiple tax crimes. The 54-year-old is accused of failing to pay federal taxes properly for years. He was accused of spending millions on an extravagant lifestyle instead of paying his taxes. Hunter Biden only paid his taxes retroactively.
Nearly 1.3 million euros in taxes were not paid
Hunter Biden is said to have paid approximately $1.4 million (1.26 million euros) in taxes between 2016 and 2019 and instead led a lavish lifestyle, spending money on drugs and prostitutes. He is accused of criminal offenses in three cases and of tax evasion in six other cases. Specifically, it covers the years from 2016 to mid-October 2020 – that is, until shortly before Joe Biden was elected president.
During that time, Hunter Biden earned more than $7 million in income, the indictment says. But he then decided not to pay taxes, instead using the money for other things: “drugs, hostesses and girlfriends, luxury hotels and rental properties, exotic cars, clothing and other items of a personal nature — in short, everything but his taxes.”
The indictment’s meticulous list of delicate expenses, such as those for sex clubs and “adult entertainment,” caused a stir. Hunter Biden may have been keen to keep such details from being made public during a trial.
Convicted of illegal possession of weapons
In another criminal trial, Hunter Biden was found guilty in June of illegal possession of a firearm. In that case, he was accused of providing false information during an October 2018 gun purchase and concealing his drug addiction at the time. He denied the charges. The trial publicly discussed a variety of sensitive private matters. The verdict in the gun case is expected to be announced on November 13.
Hunter Biden’s negative headlines in recent years and especially his legal troubles in recent months have also put pressure on his father Joe Biden. According to media reports, Hunter Biden is the first child of a sitting US president to be found guilty in a federal criminal case.
The Republicans used this to launch political attacks on the US president, who has since withdrawn from the election campaign for a second term for other reasons. In his place, Vice President Kamala Harris is now running as the Democratic candidate for the elections on November 5.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
