- Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, is expected to plead guilty to two misdemeanor charges for tax noncompliance.
- Additional firearm-related felony charges could be dismissed provided specific conditions are met.
Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, has reached a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney for Delaware, David Weiss, regarding two counts of misdemeanor tax-related crimes. Appointed by former President Donald Trump, Weiss has overseen an extensive five-year investigation into Hunter Biden's activities, which now seems to be concluding. The plea deal will likely result in probation rather than jail time for Biden.
This case presents an unusual situation, as it marks the first time a sitting president's offspring has faced charges from the Justice Department. This has led to the Biden administration retaining Weiss in his position to ensure impartial oversight of the case.
The charges center around Hunter Biden's failure to pay over $100,000 in federal income taxes in 2017 and 2018, despite earning over $1.5 million annually during those years. Additionally, Biden faces a separate felony gun possession charge relating to his possession of a firearm during a period of controlled substance addiction. This charge is expected to be resolved through a pretrial diversion agreement, provided certain conditions are met.
Biden did pay his outstanding taxes for 2017 and 2018 and wasn't charged with failure to file returns for these years. He has agreed to plead guilty for underpayment of taxes for both these years.
Alongside the tax case, the felony gun possession charge is expected to be resolved through a pretrial diversion agreement, which dismisses charges if the defendant fulfills certain conditions within a stipulated period.
The Justice Department has stated that Biden could face a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison for each of the tax charges and up to 10 years for the firearm charge. However, it's common for sentences for federal crimes to be less than the maximum penalties.
The criminal investigation against Biden began in 2018, during the Trump administration. Initially, it was a broad probe into Biden's international business relationships, particularly regarding potential national security implications. However, over time, it evolved into a detailed examination of his personal taxes and his purchase of a firearm.
Hunter Biden has admitted in his memoir to using his surname to secure lucrative deals related to foreign countries, using the money to fund his drug addiction and maintain his lifestyle. He has, however, vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
The handling of the investigation has seen its share of disagreements among various U.S. attorney's offices and agencies. The case saw the involvement of the U.S. attorney’s office in Pittsburgh in 2020, who joined at the behest of then-Attorney General William Barr, to assess allegations of corruption in Ukraine involving Hunter Biden.
Despite the extensive investigation involving multiple agencies and personnel, no charges were brought against Biden beyond his failure to pay estimated taxes on time and the issue regarding his gun application.
Despite the resolution of the investigation, House Republicans have shown intent to continue probing Hunter Biden's finances. They have alleged his involvement in a bribery scheme, but these charges have yet to be substantiated. The Justice Department has declined to comment on whether U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland had any involvement or influence in the charges.
Criticism of the plea agreement has also come from former President Trump, who faces his own criminal charges regarding alleged mishandling of classified documents. He labeled the deal as evidence of a "broken" system on his website, Truth Social.
Through it all, President Joe Biden has expressed his support for his son, stating, "I'm very proud of my son," when questioned about the charges at a California event.
The upcoming weeks will see an arraignment scheduled and Hunter Biden surrendering to Delaware authorities, marking the next phase in this prolonged case.