In a stunning turn of events, Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, plans to change his plea to guilty on federal tax charges, according to his attorney, Abbe Lowell, who made the announcement in court on Thursday. This revelation caught federal prosecutors off guard, with prosecutor Leo Wise remarking, “This is the first we are hearing about this.” Jury selection for the trial began the same day in Los Angeles, where Biden faces a series of serious charges related to his tax filings and financial conduct.
Special Counsel David Weiss, who has been investigating Biden for years, brought forward the charges, accusing him of engaging in a calculated scheme to avoid paying federal income taxes. Weiss alleges that Biden failed to pay $1.4 million in federal taxes between 2016 and 2019, a significant debt that has since been paid. The indictment, however, paints a damning picture of Biden’s financial behavior during that period. It describes how Biden allegedly withdrew millions of dollars from his company, Owasco, PC, bypassing payroll and tax withholding systems to fund a lavish lifestyle instead of paying his tax obligations.
🚨BREAKING: Hunter Biden to change his plea to guilty in tax case pic.twitter.com/e9mbpfIDDH
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 5, 2024
According to the indictment, Biden’s evasion of taxes was deliberate and sustained. He is accused of filing false tax returns in 2020 for the 2018 tax year, while also failing to file returns on time for 2017 and 2018. Despite having access to the necessary funds, Weiss alleges, Biden willfully neglected to pay his taxes for four consecutive years. Additionally, in 2018, Biden is said to have stopped paying overdue taxes from 2015 altogether, further deepening his legal troubles.
This case marks the second time Hunter Biden has faced trial this year as a result of Weiss’ investigation. Earlier, in Delaware, Biden was convicted on multiple counts related to firearms violations. He was found guilty of making false statements during the purchase of a firearm and possessing a firearm while being an unlawful user of controlled substances—charges that together carry a maximum prison sentence of 25 years. Biden’s sentencing date for those convictions has not yet been set, but the combined penalties could result in significant prison time, with each count also carrying a fine of up to $250,000 and three years of supervised release.
Hunter Biden’s legal troubles have unfolded under intense public scrutiny, particularly given his father’s position as the sitting U.S. president. However, President Biden has repeatedly stated that he will not pardon his son, underscoring the gravity of the charges and his commitment to allowing the legal process to play out without interference.
The move has shocked a lot of people, though, including CNN:
CNN's Elie Honig says Hunter Biden changing his plea deal is rarely seen in federal court pic.twitter.com/sNIvpvubLk
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) September 5, 2024
