Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, has admitted guilt to all nine charges in his federal tax case. On Thursday, during a hearing in Los Angeles, District Judge Mark Scarsi accepted his plea, as reported by CNN. The sentencing is set for December 16, notably after November’s presidential election.
Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to a range of offenses, including one felony count of tax evasion, two felony counts of filing fraudulent tax returns, four misdemeanor counts for failing to pay taxes, and two misdemeanor counts for not filing tax returns. His admission came after an extended hearing, which coincided with the day jury selection was supposed to start for his trial.
As prospective jurors waited, negotiations between prosecutors and Biden’s legal team delayed proceedings. At one point, Biden considered submitting an “Alford plea,” which would have allowed him to maintain his innocence while accepting a sentence, but his team ultimately abandoned that strategy due to objections from prosecutors.
Instead, Biden opted for an “open plea,” admitting guilt without any pre-arranged leniency from prosecutors. This move is unusual for a high-profile defendant, as it leaves him without guarantees of reduced punishment. Prosecutor Leo Wise expressed surprise at Biden’s decision, stating, “We were as shocked as everyone else in the courtroom.”
Biden confirmed under oath that no promises or pressure influenced his decision to plead guilty. After a lengthy reading of the 56-page indictment, Judge Scarsi questioned Biden, ensuring he agreed to every charge against him, to which he responded affirmatively.
The tax case was poised to go to trial in Los Angeles, which would have been Biden’s second criminal trial this year. Previously, he had been convicted on federal gun charges in Delaware. Prosecutors in this tax case accused Biden of evading taxes by filing returns with fraudulent deductions and failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes. He has since paid approximately $2 million in back taxes and penalties after becoming sober following struggles with drug addiction and alcoholism.