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Jimmy Williams
Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, pleaded guilty to multiple tax crimes on Thursday, just as his trial was about to begin.
The surprise move marked the latest chapter in a six-year federal investigation into his finances and business dealings, including his controversial work for foreign companies like Burisma, a Ukrainian energy firm. The plea allows Biden to avoid the spectacle of a public trial that could have exposed more personal and political embarrassment for the president’s family.
The tax charges, which carry a potential sentence of up to 17 years in prison, stem from allegations that Biden failed to pay $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019. Despite his guilty plea, Biden still faces sentencing for gun-related charges, for which he was convicted earlier this year in Delaware. That sentencing is scheduled for November 13, while his sentencing for the tax crimes is set for December 16.
The plea was unexpected, as Biden’s legal team had initially proposed entering an Alford plea—a legal maneuver in which a defendant maintains innocence while acknowledging the prosecution has enough evidence for a conviction. This was vociferously opposed by prosecutors, and after the judge expressed hesitation, Biden ultimately entered a straightforward guilty plea.
The tax case, which could have been highly damaging politically during the 2024 campaign, also accused Biden of lavish spending on a lifestyle fueled by drugs and alcohol. Prosecutors argued that Biden attempted to fraudulently lower his tax liabilities by mislabeling personal expenses as business deductions. However, the plea deal now avoids a public trial that could have aired even more sordid details from Biden’s past, including testimonies from his former romantic partners and the mother of one of his children.
Despite his guilty plea, the sentencing could result in a lighter prison term, with legal experts pointing out that lighter sentences for such tax crimes are not uncommon. The judge will consider Biden’s admission of guilt, and while federal sentencing guidelines recommend significant prison time, Biden could face far less or potentially no prison time at all.
President Biden has reiterated his refusal to pardon his son, and the White House confirmed that no commutation or reduction of sentence will be granted. The president had previously stated in June that he would not intervene in his son’s legal matters.
