Biden’s son agrees to plead guilty to tax evasion

US President Joe Biden’s son Hunter has agreed to plead guilty to three counts of federal charges. This is likely the first time that a child of a sitting US president has been charged, according to US media.

Biden Jr., as specified, pleads guilty to two counts of willful failure to pay income taxes as part of a deal with the Department of Justice. According to the materials of the court, with which got acquainted NBC News, he also faces a separate weapons possession charge that will likely be dropped if he meets certain conditions. According to the channel, the prosecutor agreed to recommend Biden a trial period for his tax violations. Lawyers interviewed by reporters also said that charges of tax evasion and possession of weapons would most likely not lead to Hunter’s imprisonment.

The federal charges against Hunter Biden came as a result of an investigation by Attorney David Weiss of Biden’s home state of Delaware, appointed to the post by former President Donald Trump. notes Reuters. The investigation began in 2018 and initially focused on potential violations of tax and anti-money laundering laws in foreign business transactions, mainly in China.

Attorney Weiss’ office said Hunter Biden received over $1.5 million in taxable income annually in 2017-2018.

“Despite more than $100,000 in federal income tax debt annually, he hasn’t paid income taxes,” it said (quoted by NBC News).

As recalled by Reuters, the president’s 53-year-old son reported on the investigation against him back in 2020. Then he denied any wrongdoing. In his memoirs, the agency points out, Hunter Biden talked about the problems associated with drug use. Some sources, according to Reuters, reported Biden’s dismissal from the US Navy Reserve in 2014 after testing positive for cocaine.

“I know Hunter feels it’s important to take responsibility for these mistakes he made during a period of upheaval and addiction in his life. He looks forward to continuing his recovery and moving forward,” Hunter Biden’s attorney, Christopher Clark, told reporters.quote by CNN).

Historian Aaron Crawford told Reuters that Hunter Biden appears to be the first incumbent child to be charged. CNN, in turn, believes that this situation will immediately affect the presidential race that has already begun, about participation in which earlier announced Joe Biden.

The agency recalls that Hunter also has a sister, Ashley Biden. The president’s son Beau Biden died in 2015 of cancer, his daughter Naomi died in infancy after a car accident, which also killed the president’s first wife.