Hunter Biden has officially pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion charges, sparing himself a potentially embarrassing trial. The sentencing is scheduled for 16 December, bringing an end to months of legal uncertainty surrounding the case.
The 54-year-old son of United States’ President Joe Biden admitted to nine counts related to failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes over the past decade. Prosecutors alleged that he had spent the money on luxury living, sex workers, and maintaining a drug habit.
The guilty plea was entered on the day jury selection for a trial was due to begin, and just hours after Hunter Biden attempted to negotiate a plea deal with prosecutors in a bid to avoid prison time. However, no agreement was reached, and he made his plea in open court. US District Judge Mark Scarsi warned him that he could face a lengthy prison sentence, along with a fine of up to $1 million.
The trial, had it gone forward, was expected to delve into the troubled aspects of Biden’s life, which both he and his family—including the President—have acknowledged publicly.
Earlier in 2024, Hunter Biden was convicted in Delaware of lying about his drug use when purchasing a firearm, a felony charge for which he has yet to be sentenced. He could face up to 25 years in prison for that offence.
His defence team argued that his failure to pay taxes was a result of his chaotic life, marked by a spiralling drug addiction and the trauma of losing his older brother, Beau, to a brain tumour in 2015. His lawyers have claimed that he is being targeted due to his familial connections.
Despite having repaid the back taxes and associated penalties, a previous plea deal that would have kept him out of prison fell apart at the last minute. Negotiations for a new agreement have reportedly been ongoing, but prosecutors have faced pressure in this election year, with Republicans accusing them of being lenient due to Hunter Biden’s status as the President’s son.
For years, Hunter Biden has been a focal point for political attacks, with opponents of his father alleging that the Biden family has profited from Joe Biden’s political career. However, the elder Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race in favour of Kamala Harris has somewhat tempered Republican efforts to scrutinise his son.
Hunter Biden, a Yale-educated lawyer and former lobbyist-turned-artist living in Malibu, has stated that he has been drug-free since 2019.