Hunter Biden, the son of U.S. President Joe Biden, has agreed to plead guilty to federal tax offenses while avoiding prosecution for a separate firearms charge in an agreement with the Justice Department. This move is expected to save him from potential imprisonment.
The 53-year-old is due to plead guilty to misdemeanor tax offenses, as part of an arrangement announced on Tuesday. Under the terms, he will not be prosecuted for a felony charge of illegal firearm possession as a drug user, contingent on his adherence to conditions set by the prosecutors. The arrangement is seen as unconventional in the resolution of a federal criminal case, but not entirely unprecedented.
The agreement concludes a prolonged Justice Department investigation into the President’s second son, who has publicly admitted to grappling with addiction after the 2015 death of his brother Beau Biden. The deal also averts a trial that could have caused an unwelcome distraction for the White House, which has made efforts to maintain separation from the Justice Department.
Despite the deal requiring Hunter Biden’s admission of guilt, the scope of the agreement is limited to tax and weapon violations, with no broader implications or links to the Democratic President. However, former President Donald Trump and other Republicans continue to use the case to criticize Joe Biden and to cast doubt on the independence of the Biden Justice Department.
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Reacting to the development, Trump, who plans to run against Biden in the 2024 presidential race, equated the agreement to a “mere traffic ticket,” proclaiming, “Our system is BROKEN!” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R), another potential presidential challenger, insinuated preferential treatment, with McCarthy contrasting the case’s outcome to the ongoing Trump documents case and DeSantis terming it a “sweetheart deal.”
In response to the controversy, the White House counsel’s office released a statement underscoring that President Biden and the First Lady “love their son and support him as he continues to rebuild his life.” Insiders familiar with the matter have indicated that the Justice Department is likely to recommend probation for the tax offenses, which means Hunter Biden may not face imprisonment, but the final decision remains with the judge.
The younger Biden is accused of not paying over $100,000 in taxes on income exceeding $1.5 million for the years 2017 and 2018. Each of these charges carries a maximum possible penalty of a year in prison.
However, the back taxes have now been paid, as confirmed by a person familiar with the investigation. The firearm offense relates to Hunter Biden’s possession of a Colt Cobra .38 Special handgun for 11 days in October 2018, while being aware of his drug use. This charge carries a potential maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
