Judge Approves Hunter Biden’s Plea Change, Avoiding Trial for Now

Hunter Biden entered a guilty plea on Thursday to nine federal tax charges, successfully avoiding a second criminal trial scheduled to start imminently. This event unfolded in a Los Angeles federal court as jury selection was set to begin, according to reports from The Associated Press.

In a surprising turn of events, U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi accepted Biden’s guilty plea, which stemmed from his failure to pay more than $1.4 million in taxes over a four-year period. This negligence was linked to his struggles with cocaine addiction, during which he chose to spend his money on an extravagant lifestyle rather than fulfilling his tax obligations.

Initially, Biden sought to enter an “Alford plea,” which would allow him to plead guilty while maintaining his innocence. However, prosecutors vehemently opposed this arrangement, leading to a traditional guilty plea. In his statement, Biden expressed personal accountability. “Like millions of Americans, I failed to file and pay my taxes on time. For that, I am responsible,” he stated. He added that while addiction is not an excuse for his actions, it partially explains his failures during that period, noting, “When I was addicted, I wasn’t thinking about my taxes; I was thinking about surviving.”

This guilty plea follows Biden’s earlier conviction on gun charges stemming from his false statements regarding drug use while purchasing a firearm. This marked a significant legal milestone, as it was the first criminal conviction involving the child of a sitting U.S. president.

On the day of the plea, around 120 jurors were called to the courthouse in Los Angeles. Before potential juror questioning could commence, Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, informed the judge that the evidence against Biden was substantial, prompting the decision to resolve the case before the trial.

A prosecutor from special counsel David Weiss’s team contended that Biden could not claim an Alford plea, arguing it would set a precedent that could only apply to him. Biden’s legal team ultimately accepted entering a conventional guilty plea.

By pleading guilty to three felony counts and six misdemeanor counts, Biden sidestepped another trial that would likely have thrust his past struggles with addiction back into public focus. Throughout the proceedings, Biden’s lawyers accused the government of attempting to tarnish his reputation through damaging evidence, which prosecutors argued was relevant to understanding his mindset during the tax evasion period.

Lowell mentioned that Biden’s choice to plead guilty was largely influenced by his desire to shield his family from further distress. He suggested that the prosecution aimed to exploit the family’s struggles in a similar manner as they had done during Biden’s Delaware case.

During his previous gun trial, Biden’s family members, including his ex-wife, sister-in-law, and daughter, testified about his history with drug abuse, while other relatives, including First Lady Jill Biden, attended the hearings daily.

Biden reflected on the pain the trial inflected on his family, stating he was unaware of the suffering it would cause. “I will not put them through it again,” he affirmed, criticizing the prosecution for prioritizing humiliation over justice. He stressed his commitment to spare his family from further scrutiny and embarrassment by opting for a guilty plea.

Prior to the tax trial, Judge Scarsi ruled against several defensive strategies proposed by Biden’s team, complicating their case. He disallowed connections between Biden’s addiction and the deaths of his mother and sister in a car accident, as well as his brother’s battle with cancer. Additionally, he ruled that a defense expert could not testify regarding the topic of addiction.

Biden insisted that the jury would have been unaware of how his addiction influenced his actions and pointed out that he had repaid every amount owed in taxes, including penalties.

Previously, Biden had accepted a plea deal to cover misdemeanor tax offenses, which would have allowed him to avoid prosecution in the gun case. However, this deal fell apart after a federal judge raised concerns about its peculiarities.

Looking ahead, Biden faces up to 25 years in prison for the gun-related charges, with sentencing set for November 13. His tax case sentencing is slated for December 16, carrying a potential maximum of 17 years, though federal guidelines suggest a likely shorter term.

Throughout these legal challenges, President Biden has firmly stated that he would not consider pardoning his son, reiterating his commitment to uphold the judicial process. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reaffirmed this position, stating, “Still no,” when asked if the president would grant any clemency.

Source: The Associated Press