Hunter Biden is scheduled to appear in court in Delaware, where he will plead guilty to misdemeanor tax charges. This comes after a lengthy federal investigation into his tax affairs. President Biden’s son is expected to appear before Judge Maryellen Noreika at 10:00 a.m.
Accompanying this news is an image of Hunter Biden disembarking from Air Force One at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, New York, on February 4, 2023. The image is credited to Reuters and shows Hunter Biden in the context of the news.
Hunter Biden, 53, has agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of willful failure to pay federal income tax. The U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, David C. Weiss’ office, announced the charges last month, stating that despite owing over $100,000 in federal income taxes each year, Hunter Biden did not pay the income tax due for either year. Additionally, it was revealed that he possessed a firearm while knowing he was an unlawful user of and addicted to a controlled substance.
If convicted, Hunter Biden faces a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison on each tax charge, totaling two years. For the firearm charge, he agreed to a pretrial diversion program, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. These programs divert certain offenders from the traditional criminal justice system, offering alternative systems of supervision and service, such as mental health or substance abuse treatment. Successful completion of these programs can result in declination, dismissal, or reduction of charges, or a favorable recommendation at sentencing.
A federal district court judge will determine the sentence, taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors, according to Weiss’ office. The investigation into Hunter Biden is ongoing.
Hunter Biden’s court appearance follows the recent public testimony from two IRS whistleblowers who alleged that politics influenced the investigation and prosecutorial decisions. However, the Justice Department denies these allegations. Furthermore, there have been allegations of impropriety regarding Hunter Biden’s legal team and their interactions with the court clerk’s office. Judge Noreika has issued a threat of sanctions against the legal team over these allegations. The matter is currently under review.
The federal investigation into Hunter Biden’s tax affairs began in 2018, initiated by suspicious activity reports related to funds from China and other foreign nations. The investigation stemmed from an existing probe into a foreign pornography platform. Additionally, the FBI subpoenaed a laptop and hard drive purportedly belonging to Hunter Biden in connection with a money-laundering investigation in late 2019.
In December 2020, Hunter Biden publicly acknowledged being under investigation. He expressed confidence in a fair and objective review, stating that he handled his affairs legally with the assistance of professional tax advisors.
Regarding the charges, the White House released a statement saying that the President and First Lady love their son and support him as he continues to rebuild his life.
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