A plea agreement has been reached between Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss and Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden. This agreement potentially avoids incarceration or a trial, pending approval from a federal judge.
What are the charges?
Hunter Biden has been charged with two misdemeanor tax offenses and a felony firearm offense.
What is Hunter Biden pleading?
While admitting to the felony gun possession allegation, Hunter Biden will enter into a pre-trial diversion agreement instead of pleading guilty. He will plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges related to his failure to pay taxes for 2017 and 2018. According to court filings, he had an income of over $1.5 million each year and did not pay taxes when they were due. He has since repaid back taxes and fines, including a reported $2 million paid to the federal government last year with the help of a loan from his personal attorney.
Does he face prison time?
If convicted, Hunter Biden could have faced up to 12 months in prison for each tax charge and up to 10 years in prison for the firearm charge. However, a source with knowledge of the agreement stated that he will not be pleading guilty to the gun charge, which will be dismissed if he remains drug-free and avoids committing additional crimes for two years.
Did Hunter Biden possess a gun?
Yes, according to Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss. Hunter Biden unlawfully possessed a gun for 11 days in 2018, despite knowing he was an unlawful user of a controlled substance. The firearm in question was identified as a Colt Cobra 38SPL in court filings.
What else was part of the investigation?
The investigation into Hunter Biden began in 2018 and initially appeared to have a broader scope, involving his international business dealings. A federal subpoena from 2019 sought banking records for Hunter Biden, President Biden’s brother James, and two business partners. The subpoena requested records for transactions with the Bank of China dating back to 2014, when Joe Biden was vice president. In December 2020, another subpoena was issued, requesting documents regarding Hunter Biden’s income, assets, debts, obligations, and financial transactions.
Is the investigation over?
There are conflicting statements about the status of the investigation. Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss stated that the investigation is ongoing, while Hunter Biden’s attorney, Chris Clark, said it is resolved. Congressional Republicans have also pledged to continue separate investigations alongside the Justice Department probe.
What does the White House say?
“The President and First Lady love their son and support him as he continues to rebuild his life. We will have no further comment,” said White House spokesperson Ian Sams.
Why are some Republicans criticizing the deal?
Speaker Kevin McCarthy criticized Hunter Biden’s plea agreement, claiming it exemplifies a “two-tiered system” of justice. He argued that if Hunter Biden was not the president’s son, the Department of Justice would have pursued harsher penalties. McCarthy’s statement echoed similar sentiments expressed by a spokesperson for a political action committee associated with former President Donald Trump. They accused the DOJ of ignoring the alleged corruption and bribery involving the Biden family.
President Biden has consistently denied allegations of corruption and foreign influence in his family’s affairs.
Didn’t Hunter Biden’s former business partner get subpoenaed?
Congressional Republicans are conducting separate investigations into Hunter Biden and other members of the president’s family. The House Oversight Committee recently subpoenaed Hunter Biden’s former business partner, Devon Archer, requesting his deposition. Archer served on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company, alongside Hunter Biden. Republican allegations regarding Hunter Biden’s international business dealings were not included in the Department of Justice plea agreement.
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