Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, has tentatively agreed to plead guilty to two minor tax crimes and admit to the facts of a gun charge, a move that could potentially keep him out of jail, according to court documents filed on Tuesday.
The proposed plea deal, which still requires approval from a federal judge, concludes an investigation that began in 2018 during the Trump administration, The Washington Post reports.
The Plea Deal
The proposed plea deal involves Hunter Biden, 53, pleading guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges of failure to pay in 2017 and 2018, with a combined tax liability of approximately $1.2 million. Prosecutors plan to recommend a sentence of probation for these counts. Additionally, Biden plans to admit to illegally possessing a weapon following his 2018 purchase of a handgun. As part of that admission, he expects to be entered in a diversion program, typically applied to people with substance abuse problems.
Political Implications
The plea deal is likely to become a point of contention in the 2024 presidential race, as parties debate the influence of politics on law enforcement, and the effects of law-enforcement investigations on political campaigns, according to The Washington Post. Biden’s defenders argue that the case, involving relatively minor offenses, would not typically be prosecuted by federal authorities if he wasn’t the president’s son. Republicans, however, claim the extent of wrongdoing in the Biden family goes far beyond a simple tax and gun case.
Investigation Background
The investigation into Hunter Biden’s finances began in 2018, focusing on whether he evaded paying taxes on money he collected from overseas business clients. The inquiry expanded to look at whether Biden’s gun purchase amounted to a crime. Federal agents determined there was enough evidence to file tax and gun charges.
Hunter Biden’s Public Stance
In recent months, Hunter Biden has adopted a more public and combative stance in response to the accusations. His legal team has filed countersuits, issued criminal referral letters, and sent cease-and-desist letters to some of those who have publicly argued he committed crimes.
Now Read: Trump’s Downfall May Lead FBI To Go After Biden Next, Warns GOP Presidential Candidate
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors
Photo: CSIS | Center for Strategic on Flickr
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Comments
Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.
