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Hunter Biden, the president’s second son, is expected to enter a guilty plea for two misdemeanor counts related to tax non-payment at a federal courthouse in Delaware on Wednesday.
This marks a historic moment as it represents the first time the Justice Department has pressed charges against a sitting president’s child.
Biden’s compliance with the plea agreement he made last month with U.S. Attorney David Weiss, appointed by both President Trump and President Biden, will be followed after his arrival at the courthouse.
According to the charges presented by Weiss’ office, Hunter Biden, received more than $1.5 million in taxable income annually during 2017 and 2018, but failed to pay over $100,000 in federal income tax for both years.
Aside from the tax charges, Hunter Biden also faced an illegal possession charge pertaining to a Colt Cobra .38 Special handgun. However, a pretrial agreement has been reached, which potentially allows the case to be expunged from his record under specific conditions.
Hunter’s attorney, Christopher Clark, expressed his client’s commitment to accepting responsibility for the mistakes made during a time of personal struggle and addiction, and his dedication to moving forward with his recovery.
This affair has captivated the attention of the U.S. political landscape, notably among Republicans, who argue that Biden has received preferential treatment due to his family’s position.
These critics claim that he should have been subjected to charges related to his other business involvements.
While the resolution of this broad five-year investigation, involving federal prosecutors, FBI agents, and IRS officials, may have concluded legally, it is unlikely to quell the widespread political commentary.
Republicans continue to question the investigation, even threatening to impeach Attorney General Merrick Garland in response to how the Justice Department handled the case.
In a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, U.S. Attorney David Weiss has offered to testify publicly before Congress to address these concerns.
Alongside this, the FBI has provided Republican oversight leaders in the House and Senate with a memo that contains unverified claims regarding Hunter Biden’s involvement with a Ukrainian energy company while his father served as the vice president.
It’s important to note that these allegations remain uncorroborated and were part of a review launched by former Attorney General William Barr in 2020, which concluded later that year.
During a press briefing on Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dismissed these repeatedly raised allegations, stressing that President Biden has never been in business alongside his son.
