Hunter Biden Indicted in California on Tax Charges
On Thursday, Hunter Biden was indicted on nine tax charges in California, marking an intensification of the special counsel investigation into the business dealings of President Joe Biden’s son. The charges include three felonies and six misdemeanors, in addition to federal firearms charges in Delaware stemming from alleged gun law violations in 2018. These charges come after the collapse of a plea deal over the summer, which had the potential to spare him jail time.
The allegations point to a failure to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019, a time period during which Hunter Biden has admitted to struggling with addiction. Special counsel David Weiss accused Hunter Biden of spending millions of dollars on an “extravagant lifestyle” instead of paying his tax bills.
If convicted, Hunter Biden, 53, could face a maximum of 17 years in prison. The special counsel investigation remains open, according to Weiss.
In response, Hunter Biden’s defense attorney Abbe Lowell accused Weiss of “bowing to Republican pressure.” The White House declined to comment on the indictment. The indictment in California highlighted excessive spending on drugs and strippers, luxury hotels, and exotic cars, pointing to Hunter Biden’s lavish expenditures as opposed to tax payments.
These charges come amidst an impeachment inquiry led by congressional Republicans, who assert that President Biden was involved in an influence-peddling scheme with his son. However, as of now, no concrete evidence has emerged to support these claims.
The charging documents filed in California, as well as the separate criminal investigation in Delaware, were initially expected to be concluded with a plea deal. However, the collapse of these negotiations has led to heightened scrutiny of Hunter Biden’s financial dealings.
The White House did not issue any comments regarding the indictment, instead referring questions to the Justice Department or Hunter Biden’s personal representatives.
The sizable gross income of $7 million between 2016 and 2020, attributed to Hunter Biden’s positions at Ukrainian energy company Burisma, a Chinese private equity fund, and a law firm, came under scrutiny as it was revealed that Hunter Biden filed his taxes in 2020 while facing another legal case. Prosecutors have stated that a “third party” eventually paid the back taxes.
The defense indicated the intention to fight the new charges, asserting that immunity provisions from the original plea deal remain in effect, though prosecutors disagree on the validity of these provisions, as they were not signed by a judge.
The new charges against Hunter Biden include filing a false return and tax evasion felonies, as well as misdemeanor failure to file and failure to pay. The defense has signaled it will push for dismissal of the gun charges as well, arguing they are “unprecedented and unconstitutional.”
Finally, Hunter Biden is charged with violating gun ownership laws alleging that he lied about his drug use to buy and keep a gun in 2018. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges.
This indictment of Hunter Biden comes at a critical juncture following the collapse of the plea deal and adds another layer of complexity to President Biden’s potential reelection bid in 2024.