Hunter Biden Disrupts Tax Trial with Last-Minute ‘Alford Plea’ Request

Prosecutors have expressed strong opposition to Hunter Biden’s proposed Alford plea, which would allow him to plead guilty to federal tax charges while asserting his innocence regarding the underlying conduct. This development occurred just moments before potential jurors were to be summoned to a Los Angeles courtroom for his trial.

A defense attorney indicated that Biden would plead guilty, although the term “Alford plea” was not explicitly mentioned in court. The defense discussed the proposed plea terms privately during a court recess. Prosecutor Leo Wise clarified, stating, “I want to make something crystal clear: The United States opposes an Alford plea,” alleging that Hunter Biden is seeking special treatment.

Wise’s assertion of guilt was clear: “Hunter Biden is guilty,” he said, expressing surprise at the defense’s announcement. The courtroom proceedings turned technical as both parties debated whether Biden’s proposal constituted an Alford plea or an open plea that necessitates an admission of guilt. Wise emphasized the importance of confirming Biden’s position on his innocence, indicating it was crucial to determine how to proceed.

District Judge Mark Scarsi showed willingness to consider a plea in which Biden would acknowledge that the government has sufficient evidence to convict him. However, he mentioned his belief that he could not be compelled to accept an Alford plea. Wise requested additional time to deliberate on the proposed plea.

An Alford plea is infrequent and typically used when defendants acknowledge the difficulties of winning at trial while maintaining their innocence. If accepted, Biden’s plea would require him to plead guilty to the charges without a requirement to state the reasons for his guilt.

Biden arrived at the courthouse on Thursday, just before the scheduled jury selection. His attorney’s announcement regarding the change of plea led to the suggestion that jury selection was unnecessary. The prosecution appeared caught off guard by this shift, emphasizing their unwillingness to accept anything other than a straightforward guilty plea.

This unexpected development followed prosecutors’ allegations that Biden had engaged in a four-year scheme to avoid paying $1.4 million in taxes while spending lavishly on items including exotic cars, clothing, escorts, and luxury hotels. Biden had previously pleaded not guilty to a nine-count indictment that includes six misdemeanor charges and a felony tax evasion charge.

All outstanding taxes and penalties have reportedly been covered by a third-party, identified as Kevin Morris, a confidant of Biden. The Thursday court appearance took place three months after Biden faced conviction in a separate Delaware case on felony charges related to a firearm purchase in 2018, with his sentencing set for November 13.

In their detailed indictment, prosecutors claimed that Biden deliberately evaded paying his taxes, manipulating his company’s payroll system, and failed to pay taxes despite having the financial means. The indictment also alleged that he provided inaccurate information on his 2018 tax returns.

The indictment revealed that the defendant had allocated funds to personal indulgences rather than his tax obligations, stating, “[T]he defendant spent this money on drugs, escorts, and girlfriends, luxury hotels and rental properties, exotic cars, clothing, and other items of a personal nature, in short, everything but his taxes.”

Prosecutors highlighted the millions of dollars Hunter Biden reportedly received from international business dealings in countries such as Ukraine, China, and Romania, often in exchange for minimal work. Although he eventually settled all back taxes and penalties, Judge Scarsi ruled that this information could not be shared with the jury, considering it irrelevant to Biden’s state of mind during the alleged offenses.

Last June, Hunter Biden had initially agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor charges related to unpaid taxes for income earned in 2017 and 2018. This agreement included a pretrial diversion condition to avoid criminal charges regarding a firearm purchase. However, that plea deal collapsed during a contentious hearing, prompting the special counsel to file an indictment in Delaware for allegedly lying on a federal form. Following that indictment, another was issued in December concerning tax crimes in Los Angeles.

Source: ABC News