Hunter Biden faces up to 17 years in prison over tax evasion

Hunter Biden, the son of U.S. President Joe Biden, has found himself at the center of a legal whirlwind as he faces up to 17 years behind bars following a guilty plea to nine federal tax charges.

This dramatic courtroom twist unfolded in Los Angeles on what was expected to be the first day of a protracted trial.

The charges against Biden include tax evasion, filing fraudulent tax returns, and failing to pay taxes.

District Judge Mark Scarsi, a Trump appointee, accepted Biden’s plea and scheduled sentencing for December 16, according to a CNN report.

Scarsi indicated that Biden could also face fines totaling up to $1.3 million.

Also Read: The alarming criminal activities of a Venezuelan gang in Aurora

The surprise plea left many in the courtroom stunned, including prosecutor Leo Wise, who remarked, “We were as shocked as everyone else in the courtroom this morning.”

Biden’s legal representative, Abbe Lowell, explained the motivation behind the plea, asserting, “Hunter decided to enter his plea to protect those he loves from unnecessary hurt and cruel humiliation.”

Lowell emphasized that the plea was intended to circumvent another public trial that would delve into Biden’s battle with addiction. He added, “This plea prevents that kind of show trial that would have not provided all the facts or served any real point in justice.”

Despite the plea, prosecutors maintained that Biden was culpable and bore responsibility for the sequence of events leading to the charges.

“He’s the one that triggered this set of events,” Wise stated, while also resisting Biden’s earlier attempt to file an Alford plea, which enables a defendant to plead guilty while still asserting innocence.

The case has garnered significant attention, partly due to speculation about a potential presidential pardon. However, the White House reaffirmed on Thursday that President Biden had ruled out this possibility.