President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, has been charged with nine tax crimes in California, marking a major development. The most recent blow in the ongoing special counsel investigation of the business dealings of the President‘s son comprises three felonies and six misdemeanors.
Hunter Biden Indicted on Tax Charges.
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Late Thursday, President Biden's son, Hunter Biden, was charged on nine counts relating to unpaid federal taxes on in…
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These tax charges filed on Thursday are quite different from federal firearms cases in Delaware where Hunter Biden is accused of illegally having guns during his stint as a drug user in 2018.
Following the breakdown of a plea deal over the summer to spare Hunter jail time, the legal proceedings intensified, putting the case on a trajectory toward a potential trial as President Biden seeks reelection.
David Weiss, the special counsel, claims that Hunter Biden spent millions of dollars on a luxurious lifestyle instead of paying his taxes. The charges relate to about $1.4 million which remained unpaid during the period of 2016 – 2019 when Hunter Biden openly acknowledged struggling with drug addiction.
And while the back taxes have been settled, a conviction could attract a 17-year prison term. Special counsel Weiss confirmed that the probe remains open. In response, defense attorney Abbe Lowell fiercely accused Weiss of succumbing to political pressure.
Lowell noted, “Based on the facts and the law if Hunter’s last name was anything other than Biden, the charges in Delaware, and now California, would not have been brought.” The White House has not yet commented on Thursday’s indictment and referred questions to the Justice Department or Hunter Biden representatives.
Expenditure on drugs, hookers, posh hotels, and exotic cars are all outlined in the charging documents filed in California, where Hunter Biden resides. Leo Wise, the prosecutor, insisted that there is nothing about Hunter Biden’s taxes in the indictment.
This legal development coincides with the congressional Republicans demanding an impeachment inquiry into President Biden for allegedly running an influence-peddling scheme with his son, leaving many to question the ethical side of the Biden family business dealings.
The criminal investigation over Hunter Biden was expected to result in a plea deal but was criticized by Republicans as a “sweetheart deal”.
In the midst of these legal challenges, the House Oversight Committee, led by Rep. James Comer (R-KY), is credited for the claim that there had been maladministration in the Justice Department investigation involving the president’s son. The new charges against Hunter Biden include filing false returns, tax evasion felonies, and misdemeanor charges for failing to file and failing to pay.
The defense has stated its intention to contest the charges but the drama is far from over as the defense may invoke the immunity provisions which were part of the plea deal. Moreover, the gun case in Delaware that is still ongoing makes things even more complicated.
Hunter Biden is accused of violating gun regulations against drug users as he was in possession of a revolver for eleven days in 2018. In a bid to secure a closed-door deposition, which he refuses, House Republicans have charged him despite his plea of not guilty, however, Hunter Biden’s legal team will likely be challenging the gun charges.
