Joe Biden’s son, Hunter pleads guilty to all nine charges in federal tax case
First Published: 6th September, 2024 9:10 IST
The guilty plea came in a convoluted all-day hearing on the same day that his trial was supposed to begin with jury selection in Los Angeles.
US President Joe Biden‘s son Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to all nine charges in his federal tax case Thursday, and District Judge Mark Scarsi in Los Angeles has accepted his plea, CNN reported.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 16, notably after November’s presidential election.
The president’s son has now officially pleaded guilty to one count of felony tax evasion, two counts of felony filing fraudulent tax returns, four misdemeanor counts of failing to pay taxes, and two misdemeanor counts of failing to file tax returns, as per CNN.
The guilty plea came in a convoluted all-day hearing on the same day that his trial was supposed to begin with jury selection in Los Angeles.
About 120 prospective jurors waited in a sequestered assembly room throughout the day, while prosecutors and Hunter Biden‘s lawyers haggled in court over how to move forward.
According to CNN, the plea also came hours after Hunter Biden offered an “Alford plea,” where he would’ve maintained his innocence, skipped a trial, and accepted any punishment at sentencing. But Biden’s team backed away from that plan after prosecutors raised forceful objections, and the judge said he’d want to study the matter and reconvene Friday morning.
The guilty plea was a unilateral move by Hunter Biden, called an “open plea” because it was done without a pre-arranged plea bargain with prosecutors.
It’s rare for a high-profile defendant to plead guilty to crimes without a leniency deal with prosecutors.
“We were as shocked as everyone else in the courtroom this morning,” prosecutor Leo Wise said.
But in a surprising turn Thursday afternoon, Biden’s team changed course and instead said he is prepared to enter an “open plea” and admit that his conduct satisfied the elements of the tax offences with which he had been charged.
Biden said under oath in federal court in Los Angeles Thursday that nobody made him any promises, to convince him to plead guilty in his tax case. The president’s son also testified that nobody pressured him to plead guilty in any way.
After prosecutors read the full 56-page indictment during the plea proceeding, which took nearly 90 minutes, Scarsi asked Hunter Biden standard questions that are part of every pea deal.
“Do you agree that you committed every element of every crime?” Scarsi asked.
“Yes,” Hunter Biden responded.
The resolution of the tax case came on the brink of a trial in downtown Los Angeles. This would have been Biden’s second criminal trial this year, after he was convicted in June on three federal gun charges in Wilmington, Delaware.
According to CNN, prosecutors alleged that Biden failed to pay USD 1.4 million in federal taxes and evaded taxes by filing tax returns with fraudulent business deductions.
The president’s son eventually paid roughly USD 2 million in back taxes and penalties after learning of the investigation and getting sober, following a years-long struggle with drug addiction and alcoholism. (ANI)
COMMENTS
TOPMOST STORY NOW
Live Meghalaya Deputy CM Prestone Tynsong Making Steady Recovery, Will Resume Work Soon
18th September 2024Live Assam Govt Transfers 3 SPs, Several Other Police Officers
18th September 2024Live 50 Injured in Head-On Collision Between Two Buses on Assam’s NH 17
18th September 2024Live Union Cabinet approves One Nation, One Election proposal
18th September 2024WE RECOMMEND
Trump says will meet with Prime Minister Modi in US next week
Trump says will meet with Prime Minister Modi in US next week
18th September 2024US: Trump blames Biden, Harris’ ‘rhetoric’ for assassination bid, says gunman acted on “highly inflammatory language”
Former US President Donald Trump has launched a fiery attack on US PresidentJoe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris‘ for their ‘rhetoric’ that according to Trump led to the second assassination attempt on his life over the weekend, Fox News reported. The Republican presidential candidate claimed that the suspected gunman ‘acted’ on ‘highly inflammatory language’ of Democrats. It was, notably, the second […]
17th September 2024“I hate Taylor Swift,” says Donald Trump days after she endorses Kamala Harris
Donald Trump slammed singer Taylor Swift, days after she endorsed his presidential rival and Vice President, Kamala Harris
16th September 2024“I am safe and well!” says Donald Trump in fundraising email after shots fired in his vicinity
Following the shooting incident near his Florida Golf Course on Sunday, former US President Donald Trump said that he is absolutely “safe and well.” In a fundraising email, Trump wrote, “There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!” “Nothing will slow me down. I […]
16th September 2024US International Development Finance Corporation announces USD 70 million investment in India
These investments aim to advance key priorities of the U.S. and Indian governments, including strengthening health systems
13th September 2024