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Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, pleaded guilty on Thursday to all nine
federal tax charges
brought against him in a tax evasion case by
special counsel David Weiss
. This trial commenced as jury selection for the criminal tax case began in Los Angeles.
Biden remains free on bond until his sentencing, which is scheduled for December 16.
Biden's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, stated in federal court that Biden intended to change his plea to guilty after initially pleading not guilty.
What are the charges against Hunter Biden
David Charles Weiss, the attorney for the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, has charged Hunter Biden with three felonies and six misdemeanors related to $1.4 million in unpaid taxes, which Biden has since paid. Weiss alleges that Biden consistently failed to pay federal income taxes and submitted false tax returns over several years.
According to the indictment, Biden "engaged in a four-year scheme to not pay at least $1.4 million in self-assessed federal taxes he owed for tax years 2016 through 2019, from in or about January 2017 through in or about October 15, 2020, and to evade the assessment of taxes for tax year 2018 when he filed false returns in or about February 2020."
The special counsel also claimed that Biden disrupted the payroll and tax withholding process of his company, Owasco, PC, by withdrawing millions of dollars outside the established system.
Weiss further alleged that Biden "spent millions of dollars on an extravagant lifestyle rather than paying his tax bills" and stopped paying his overdue 2015 taxes in 2018. Additionally, Weiss asserted that Biden "willfully failed to pay his 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 taxes on time, despite having access to funds to pay some or all of these taxes," and failed to file his 2017 and 2018 tax returns on time.
Biden pleads guilty
Earlier on Thursday, Hunter Biden proposed accepting a guilty verdict while maintaining his innocence through an
Alford plea
. Prosecutors rejected the proposal, calling it an "injustice" and "contrary to the rule of law."
An Alford plea allows a defendant to acknowledge that the prosecution's evidence would likely lead to a conviction while maintaining their innocence.
"Hunter Biden is not innocent. Hunter Biden is guilty," stated prosecutor Leo Wise, emphasizing that Biden is not entitled to any special conditions.
Biden's attorney, Abbe Lowell, countered that Biden was not seeking special treatment and asserted that he was entitled to the same rights as others who have entered Alford pleas.
Plea not finalised
A source close to the special counsel's team informed Fox News Digital that the plea deal is not yet finalised and is currently just a defense offer. Judge Mark Scarsi required Hunter Biden to confirm under oath that he would waive his right to remain silent and explained that by pleading guilty, he would lose his right to a trial. "The court does not require the government’s approval to accept an Alford plea," Judge Scarsi noted before pausing the proceedings for 30 minutes.
According to the Justice Manual, which outlines
Justice Department
policies and procedures, US attorneys should only consent to Alford pleas "in the most unusual of circumstances." Such pleas are only to be accepted after obtaining a recommendation approved by one of the three top Justice Department officials or the assistant attorney general responsible for the relevant subject matter.
What Biden's defense said
Hunter Biden's defense had prepared to argue that he was too intoxicated or under the influence to fulfill his tax obligations.
Next steps by special counsel’s team
According to a source familiar with Weiss' team, Biden's attorneys and the special counsel team are not currently in direct communication. The special counsel’s team is considering its next steps internally, and the US Department of Justice is also assessing how and when to get involved.
Joe Biden's stance on the matter
President Biden has stated that he will not pardon his son, a stance that has not changed. "It's no, it's still no,"
White House
Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters, confirming that the president has no intention of reconsidering a pardon for Hunter Biden. "I'm not able to comment on it, but I can say that it is still very much a ‘no' to the questions I have gotten about if the president is going to pardon [Hunter].”
Previous trials
This marks the second trial Biden faces this year stemming from Weiss' investigation. Previously, Biden was found guilty on all counts in Delaware, which included making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm, making a false statement related to information required by a licensed firearm dealer, and possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance. No date has been set for sentencing regarding these charges.
Combined, the maximum prison time for all charges could amount to up to 25 years, with each count carrying a potential fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised release.
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