US Prez Joe Biden’s Son Hunter Pleads Guilty to Tax Offenses & Firearm Violations

Washington: Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, has reached a plea agreement with the US Attorney’s Office in Delaware. He has agreed to plead guilty to two counts of failure to pay federal income tax and has admitted to unlawfully owning a gun while being a drug user. The plea agreement is pending approval from a federal judge. It is unlikely that Hunter Biden will face prison time.

President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden expressed their support for their son in a brief statement. The White House spokesperson, Ian Sams, stated that they love their son and will not provide further comments.

According to the charges, Hunter Biden failed to file his tax returns on time for earnings over $1.5 million in 2017 and 2018. He owed more than $100,000 in taxes for both years. Each count carries a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 or double the unlawful gains.

Additionally, Hunter Biden faces a charge of possessing a firearm as an unlawful user of a controlled substance. However, he will not be prosecuted for this charge and will enter a “pretrial diversion” program, likely involving counselling or rehabilitation due to his past struggles with drugs.

Hunter Biden’s lawyer, Christopher Clark, stated that he will take responsibility for the misdemeanour failure to file tax payments. Clark emphasized that Hunter acknowledges the mistakes made during a period of turmoil and addiction and looks forward to continuing his recovery.

Former President Donald Trump criticized the agreement, characterizing it as a minor penalty. He expressed his discontent on his Truth Social platform, claiming that the system is broken.