Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in California on nine charges, including three felonies related to tax evasion, understating income, and inflating expenses on tax returns spanning from 2016 to 2019. This development could potentially lead to two separate criminal trials for Hunter Biden in the coming year, coinciding with his father's reelection campaign against Donald Trump, who is dealing with four criminal cases himself. Additionally, Hunter Biden is facing separate charges in Delaware for the illegal possession of a firearm.
Special counsel David Weiss, the Delaware prosecutor overseeing the federal investigation into Hunter Biden, brought forth these charges, which encompass tax evasion, filing false returns, failure to file returns on time, and failure to pay federal taxes. The charges carry a maximum prison term of 17 years, although actual sentences are typically shorter under federal guidelines.
The indictment alleges that Hunter Biden willfully engaged in tax evasion while acknowledging his long-standing struggle with drug addiction. Prosecutors claim that he maintained an extravagant lifestyle, spending lavishly on "drugs, escorts and girlfriends, luxury hotels and rental properties, exotic cars, clothing, and other personal items."
Hunter Biden's attorney, Abbe Lowell, responded to the charges, asserting that the U.S. Attorney, David Weiss, had added nine new charges after previously agreeing to resolve the matter with a pair of misdemeanors. Lowell accused Weiss of leaking the information to the media instead of engaging in a customary meeting to discuss the investigation.
These charges emerge as House Republicans attempt to link President Joe Biden to his son's business dealings in an impeachment inquiry, though no evidence has been produced to suggest corrupt actions by the elder Biden during his presidency or vice presidency.
The tax case has been in progress for years, originating in 2018 when federal law enforcement began investigating Hunter Biden's financial dealings. Weiss initially considered bringing tax charges in California, where Biden lived during the alleged tax evasion period. Despite negotiating a plea deal with Hunter Biden in 2022, which involved pleading guilty to two misdemeanor tax counts, the deal fell apart in July after a federal judge sought more details. In August, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Weiss as a special counsel, granting him the authority to bring criminal charges nationwide. In September, Weiss charged Hunter Biden in Delaware with gun-related offenses, marking a significant escalation compared to the initially proposed misdemeanor charges.
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