Hunter Biden enters shock guilty plea in $1.4M tax evasion case, first son facing up to 17 years in prison

In an unexpected turn of events, Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, pleaded guilty Thursday to federal tax evasion charges, stunning both the courtroom and the legal community.

The plea came just as jury selection was set to begin for his trial in Los Angeles. Facing nine counts of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019, Biden’s guilty plea has garnered significant attention, particularly because it was not part of a pre-negotiated plea deal.

Federal Judge Mark Scarsi accepted Biden’s plea, a move that could result in a sentence of up to 17 years in prison—the same penalty he would have faced had he been convicted at trial.

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“Hunter decided to enter his plea to protect those he loves from unnecessary hurt and cruel humiliation,” Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, explained outside the courtroom.

According to Lowell, Biden wanted to avoid a public trial that might have been more about spectacle than justice.

Despite initially signaling a desire to enter an Alford plea—a legal maneuver that allows a defendant to maintain their innocence while conceding that the prosecution has enough evidence to convict—Biden ultimately opted for a traditional guilty plea.

Prosecutors rejected the Alford plea proposal, citing the overwhelming evidence in the case.

During the hearing, after the prosecution spent 90 minutes reading the indictment in full, Judge Scarsi asked Biden directly, “Do you agree you committed every element of every crime in the indictment?” to which Biden responded, “Yes.” When asked how he pleaded, Biden simply said, “Guilty.”

The shock in the courtroom was palpable, with lead prosecutor Leo Wise admitting, “We were as shocked as anyone in the courtroom this morning.” Wise expressed confusion about Biden’s attempt to maintain his innocence while agreeing to the facts presented by the government. Despite this, Lowell conceded, “There is overwhelming evidence of the defendant’s guilt.”

The case has drawn intense media attention, not only because of Hunter Biden’s ties to the president but also due to the broader implications for the Biden family.

The first son, who has long been a target of political scrutiny and controversy, now faces the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence. His sentencing is scheduled for December 16, notably after the 2024 presidential election.

Adding to the drama, speculation has arisen about whether President Biden will ultimately pardon his son. Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor, noted, “For Biden’s lawyer to do something like this means they probably have a pardon lined up.”

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Although President Biden has repeatedly stated that he does not plan to pardon his son, and White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reaffirmed this stance, Rahmani and other legal observers suggest that a pardon may still be on the table.

Hunter Biden’s legal troubles extend beyond the tax evasion case. In June, he was convicted of illegally possessing a firearm while addicted to drugs, a charge that carries a potential 25-year prison sentence.

As the president’s son faces back-to-back sentencing hearings, his legal battles will likely continue to be a point of interest for both the media and the public.

Lowell, speaking on behalf of his client, acknowledged the toll these legal challenges have taken on the Biden family.

“This has been a difficult moment for him and especially his family,” Lowell said, noting that Hunter’s past struggles with addiction have played a central role in his legal issues.

He emphasized that the first son is eager to move forward, saying, “He and his family don’t want to spend one more day on a period when he was addicted to drugs.”

The surprise plea has left many questions unanswered, especially regarding the potential for a presidential pardon and what this means for the Biden family moving forward.

With high stakes and the political implications of the case looming, Hunter Biden’s legal battles are far from over.

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