Joe Biden's son Hunter pleads guilty in tax evasion case

5 September 2024, 22:50 | Updated: 6 September 2024, 00:21

President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, has pleaded guilty to federal tax charges.

This surprising move will mean President Biden can avoid a high-profile trial in the weeks before the November election.

Hunter Biden was due to stand trial on criminal charges of failing to pay $1.4m in taxes while allegedly splashing cash on drugs and sex workers.

This guilty plea will avoid that trial.

He was convicted in June of charges related to the purchase of a revolver in 2018, when prosecutors say he lied on a mandatory gun-purchase form by saying he was not illegally using or addicted to drugs.

Judge Mark Scarsi told Hunter Biden he faces up to 17 years in prison and up to $450,000 in penalties, but his actual sentence is likely to be much shorter.

He will be sentenced on 16 December, more than a month after Kamala Harris takes on Donald Trump in the US presidential election.

A Justice department statement read: "Robert Hunter Biden (Hunter Biden) pleaded guilty in federal court in Los Angeles this afternoon to all counts in a nine-count indictment, including three felony tax offenses and six misdemeanor tax offenses.

"There was no plea agreement. Judge Scarsi accepted the defendant’s guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for December 16, 2024.

"According to the indictment, Hunter Biden engaged in a four-year scheme in which he chose not to pay at least $1.4 million in self-assessed federal taxes he owed for tax years 2016 through 2019 and to evade the assessment of taxes for tax year 2018 when he filed false returns."

Speaking in June, Joe Biden said he is ‘so proud’ of his son Hunter and ‘will accept the outcome of the case’ after he was found guilty of illegally purchasing a gun.

Hunter, 54, was convicted of three firearms charges in the first criminal prosecution of a sitting US president's child. He now faces up to 25 years in jail.

Following the verdict announcement, the US President Joe Biden said he was "so proud" of his son's recovery.

He said in a statement: "I am the President, but I am also a Dad.

"Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today. So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery.

"As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.

"Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that."