Hunter Biden Pleads Guilty to Tax Charges at the Last Minute, Aiming to Avoid Another Trial and Accept Sentence

Mar. 15, 2025

Hunter Biden.Photo:Matt Slocum/AP Photo

Matt Slocum/AP Photo

Hunter Bidenoffered to plead guilty in his federal tax case on Thursday, Sept. 5, seeking to dodge a high-profile Los Angeles trial on the day that it was scheduled to begin, multiple outlets report.

Thirty minutes before jury selection kicked off, Biden’s lawyer Abbe Lowell said that the son of PresidentJoe Bidenwould like to submit an Alford plea, which is also known as a “best interests plea,” perCornell Law School. The plea means that Biden would accept a conviction onall nine of his federal tax chargeswhile simultaneously maintaining his innocence.

U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi has not yet decided whether he will accept Biden’s new plea offer, calling for a brief recess so that prosecutors can form a response and suggesting that jury selection may continue, according toThe New York Times.

The new court drama comes about two months after a Delaware juryfound Biden guilty of three chargesin afederal firearm caserelated to how he unlawfully obtained and possessed a gun in 2018 while addicted to narcotics.

After his June conviction in the previous trial, Biden became the first child of a sitting president to be convicted of crimes. He currently faces up to 25 years in prison and $750,000 in fines in that case, and will be sentenced this fall.

Hunter Biden exits a Delaware courthouse with stepmom Jill Biden and wife Melissa Cohen Biden after receiving a guilty verdict on June 11, 2024.Anna Moneymaker/Getty

Anna Moneymaker/Getty

Afiling from December 2023alleged that Hunter failed to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes, instead spending “millions of dollars on an extravagant lifestyle” — allegedly including drugs, escorts, luxury hotels and exotic cars. He faces up to 17 years in prison if convicted of all charges.

Four of thenine chargesare related to failure to pay taxes in instances that occurred from 2016 to 2019, while two alleged that he failed to file taxes in both 2017 and 2018. Then he has two felony charges of filing a false return with both instances taking place in 2018 and a third felony charge for tax evasion that same year.

Details of Hunter’s unruly behavior during those years were exposed during his previous firearm trial, which saw several people testify about his past substance abuse and infidelity.

President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden during the 2024 White House Easter Egg Roll.Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images

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President Biden, 81, previously said he will notuse his presidential power to pardonhis son.

The younger Biden is afather of five, having welcomedhis first three childrenwith ex-wifeKathleen Buhle; a daughter,Navy, with his onetime assistantLunden Roberts; and his youngest son, Beau Jr., with his current wife,Melissa Cohen.

source: people.com