Hunter Biden's Surprising Last-Minute Guilty Plea in Tax Evasion Case

[Social Media]

 

Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion charges, shocking prosecutors who were prepared to begin his trial on Thursday. Biden, who had previously denied any wrongdoing, was accused of intentionally avoiding the payment of $1.4 million in income taxes between 2016 and 2019.

 

At the outset, Biden, 54, indicated his intention to enter an Alford plea—a legal move allowing him to accept the charges while maintaining his innocence. However, when prosecutors objected, Biden simply pleaded guilty. This unexpected shift occurred as the entire 56-page indictment against him was read aloud in court. When asked by the judge if he agreed that he had committed "every element of every crime charged," Biden responded, "I do."

 

This reversal, announced in a Los Angeles courtroom just as jury selection was about to begin, marks Biden’s second criminal conviction this year. His attorney, Abbe Lowell, stated that Biden chose to plead guilty to avoid a trial "for the sake of private interest," sparing his friends and family from having to testify about events that took place "when he was addicted to drugs."

 

Judge Mark Scarsi warned that Biden now faces a maximum penalty of 17 years in prison and fines ranging from $500,000 to $1 million. Sentencing is scheduled to take place after the upcoming election in December.

 

In a symbolic moment, Biden, accompanied by his wife, lawyers, and Secret Service detail, had to pass by a portrait of his father, President Joe Biden, on his way to court. President Biden has previously stated that he would not use his executive power to pardon his son.

 

The prosecution, representing the President’s own Justice Department, expressed surprise at the proposed Alford plea and hesitated to agree to a deal that would allow Hunter Biden to maintain his innocence. "Hunter Biden is not innocent. Hunter Biden is guilty," lead prosecutor Leo Wise stated emphatically in court. "We came to court today to try this case."

Biden had earlier attempted to have the case dismissed, arguing that the Justice Department's investigation was politically motivated and that he was targeted because Republican lawmakers are seeking to impeach his father. He also claimed that the special counsel on the case, David Weiss, was unlawfully appointed. These arguments were rejected by Judge Scarsi, a Trump appointee overseeing the case.

 

The indictment charged Biden with three felony tax offenses and six misdemeanors, including failure to file and pay taxes, tax evasion, and filing a false return. The charges stem from his foreign business dealings, which reportedly earned him $7 million between 2016 and 2019. According to the indictment, Biden spent nearly $5 million during that period on personal indulgences, including drugs, escorts, luxury hotels, cars, and clothing, all falsely labeled as business expenses. Prosecutors argued that these actions amounted to "a four-year scheme" to evade taxes.

 

This tax evasion case is the second federal criminal proceeding for Biden this year. In June, he was found guilty of charges related to gun possession and drug use, making him the first criminally convicted son of a sitting U.S. president. In that case, Biden was convicted of three felony charges connected to his purchase of a revolver in 2018 while struggling with drug addiction, and for lying about his drug use on a federal form when buying the gun.

 

Biden had previously reached a plea deal with federal prosecutors, but that agreement fell apart. His decision to plead guilty on Thursday did not come with any concessions from the prosecution, other than the avoidance of a public trial.

 

Credit: BBC 2024-09-06

 

 

 

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[Cryingdick]

Otherwise he would have to testify and be questioned. Now we will never find the paper trail. When the mob boss tells you to do a little time you do it. Joe won't be able to pardon him now because he would have immunity to testify. Nice maneuver. He probably does 18 months in Club Fed.

 

"for the sake of private interest," sparing his friends and family from having to testify about events that took place "

Edited September 5 by Cryingdick

[Gsxrnz]

I like how the "get out of jail free" plea deal scandal was nicely glossed over.

 

Judge Delays Hunter Biden Plea Deal - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

[JonnyF]

Ah, the latest conviction for a member of the Biden Crime Family.

 

Keep them coming...

[thaibeachlovers]

3 hours ago, Social Media said:

His attorney, Abbe Lowell, stated that Biden chose to plead guilty to avoid a trial "for the sake of private interest," sparing his friends and family from having to testify about events that took place "when he was addicted to drugs."

I bet he did. Faced with being humiliated and likely found guilty anyway, he chose to avoid his private life being fodder for the media. Understandable.

[thaibeachlovers]

3 hours ago, Social Media said:

Judge Mark Scarsi warned that Biden now faces a maximum penalty of 17 years in prison and fines ranging from $500,000 to $1 million. Sentencing is scheduled to take place after the upcoming election in December.

The only way any of that will happen, IMO, is if Trump wins.

Otherwise, a short holiday in one of the white collar open prisons is more likely, IMO.

[bamnutsak]

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Ah, the latest conviction for a member of the Biden Crime Family.

 

"latest"? First? Second (if you count Hunter's gun plea.)

 

 

[JonnyF]

4 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

 

"latest"? First? Second (if you count Hunter's gun plea.)

 

 

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13518479/Bidens-Hunter-guilty-gun-conviction-crimes.html

 

[candide]

5 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

Otherwise he would have to testify and be questioned. Now we will never find the paper trail. When the mob boss tells you to do a little time you do it. Joe won't be able to pardon him now because he would have immunity to testify. Nice maneuver. He probably does 18 months in Club Fed.

 

"for the sake of private interest," sparing his friends and family from having to testify about events that took place "

More B.S. conspiracy theory.

[bamnutsak]

58 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13518479/Bidens-Hunter-guilty-gun-conviction-crimes.html

 

Cool graphic.

 

How many of these are "convictions"?

 

3 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Ah, the latest conviction for a member of the Biden Crime Family.

 

[JonnyF]

3 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

How many of these are "convictions"?

 

How many previous convictions are required for my statement to be incorrect?

[Dave0206]

I've always said let him face the same justice any other person would and his father said he would not get in the way of justice I have not heard any mention of "witch hunt " I think that's a Republican mantra .

So now he is convicted perhaps he can share a cell with the orange one or his family?

Certainly won't be paul manafort or other similar patriots 

[MicroB]

Its also likely Biden will commute Trump's Federal crimes. And its more likely that a Democrat President can influence a Democrat Governor to commute State crimes, compared to trying to influence a Republican Governor. Trump will not go to jail, for the same reason that Nixon didn't. He will die a convicted felon.

Edited September 6 by stats
name misspellings removed

[RichardColeman]

Of course he pleaded guilty. Now Daddy can pardon him before he leaves the white house,  if the case had dragged on, then daddy could not run the risk of being out of office

[theblether]

1 hour ago, MicroB said:

 

 

Its also likely Biden will commute Trumpf's Federal crimes. And its more likely that a Democrat President can influence a Democrat Governor to commute State crimes, compared to trying to influence a Republican Governor. Trumpf will not go to jail, for the same reason that Nixon didn't. He will die a convicted felon.

 

Very unlikely that the New York appeal will fail. 

 

[billd766]

4 hours ago, candide said:

More B.S. conspiracy theory.

It is not surprising, considering who wrote the post that you responded to.

[Cameroni]

So Biden says he won't pardon his son. What a heartless monster. All because he thinks of his own legacy, he's prepared to throw his own son to the wolves. Let's him rot in jail. 

 

Despicable. 

 

 

[theblether]

@billd766  - here's another one from that notorious right-wing rag "The Washington Post." Maybe just switch off your Internet and go watch the telly, eh?

 

 

Millions flowed to Biden family members. Don’t pretend it doesn’t matter.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/05/18/foreign-payments-to-biden-family-members/

[billd766]

21 minutes ago, theblether said:

@billd766  - here's another one from that notorious right-wing rag "The Washington Post." Maybe just switch off your Internet and go watch the telly, eh?

 

 

Millions flowed to Biden family members. Don’t pretend it doesn’t matter.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/05/18/foreign-payments-to-biden-family-members/

You seem to believe that opinions are facts BUT only if you can apply that to the democrats

 

27 minutes ago, theblether said:

 

Listen, I know your sitting at home bored. I suggest you just stay out of this topic as some of us here could buy and sell you with our in-depth knowledge PROVED CORRECT by Hunter's guilty plea. This has gone beyond "right-wing conspiracy" theory to brutal reality. 

 

Hunter Biden is going to jail. 

 

The proof? All delivered under oath - and Hunter knew that he was going to be subjected to a new battering by THIRTY-ONE WITNESSES under oath at this trial. 

 

Just give it up billd, the games over. And proof? Here you go................

 

https://oversight.house.gov/blog/joe-biden-met-nearly-every-foreign-associate-funneling-his-family-millions/

I suggest that you wind your neck in. I will post what I like and if you don't like that, you know what you can do.

 

You are correct that I am at home bored.

 

I am bored with all the rubbish that the gop in the USA and their supporters on AN churn out day after day hoping that something, anything will do. If you have no proof, that doesn't matter. just keep throwing it anyway.

[Gobbler]

Just now, Yellowtail said:

Unfortunately, the DOJ slow-walked all those charges until the statutes ran out. 

They slowly walked his Tax charges.  I'm sure the payments from the wife of the Moscow mayor and the China payments are still alive. 

[Gobbler]

15 minutes ago, theblether said:

In years past we had members of this forum who were supremely educated and fantastic debaters. 

 

These days we have bored old men replying to links that prove the point and saying "I NEED PROOF." 

 

The standard of debate on this forum has collapsed to the point where every other post is from a village idiot. 

 

The man has pled guilty in court. 

 

The Senate oversight committee has submitted evidence that Joe lied. 

 

The Washington Post has said it matters that there is compelling evidence of $10 million of corrupt money transferred to the wider Biden family. 

 

That's it. Game over. 

Hunter Biden just pleaded guilty to a California case of Federal Tax Charges. 

 

He was never charged for being the money mule.  The investigating committees got checks from their banks.  Charge Joe and his family for conspiracy and money laundering.  They never paid taxes on the millions.  Biden is a criminal as is most of his family. 

[Gobbler]

6 hours ago, candide said:

More B.S. conspiracy theory.

No proof, just a statement. 

[Gobbler]

1 hour ago, Eric Loh said:

Give it up Maga. The GOP lead 15 months Impeachment Inquiry of President Biden came up short with nothing but embarrassment. 

Gaslighting. Warning, warning, Gaslighting alert ! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Gobbler]

1 hour ago, candide said:

Which corrupt schemes? You are making stuff up again.

You are gaslighting again. Are you not ashamed? 

[gargamon]

21 minutes ago, theblether said:

The standard of debate on this forum has collapsed to the point where every other post is from a village idiot. 

Pot. Kettle. Black.

I hear the next village idiot convention is in Minsk. Have you booked your ticket yet?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5ObycvN3DA

 

[johng]

1 hour ago, Cameroni said:

So Biden says he won't pardon his son.

I think he will  if its a hefty sentence

but lets wait and see maybe he just gets a slap on the wrist.

Edited September 6 by johng
more context

[Cameroni]

4 minutes ago, johng said:

I think he will  but lets wait and see.

 

Let's hope he does, it's not like he has a reputation to protect anymore now that we all know he's demented anyway. Imagine the arrogance to think you still have a legacy to protect, impossible to fathom why he says he won't pardon his son. I mean that's his son, his own flesh and blood he claims to love so much. But then lets him rot in jail when he could pardon him, due to his own vanity and reputation? That's so low...

 

 

Edited September 6 by Cameroni

[GroveHillWanderer]

40 minutes ago, theblether said:

In years past we had members of this forum who were supremely educated and fantastic debaters. 

 

These days we have bored old men replying to links that prove the point and saying "I NEED PROOF." 

 

The standard of debate on this forum has collapsed to the point where every other post is from a village idiot. 

 

The man has pled guilty in court. 

 

The Senate oversight committee has submitted evidence that Joe lied. 

 

The Washington Post has said it matters that there is compelling evidence of $10 million of corrupt money transferred to the wider Biden family. 

 

That's it. Game over. 

"The Washington Post" said no such thing. The link you gave is to an opinion piece by Jim Geraghty, who is National Review’s senior political correspondent. The National Review describes itself as a "Leading conservative magazine and website."

 

And the so-called evidence? Jim Geraghty writes that, "James Comer contends" that there is proof but tellingly, Comer himself has admitted that there is no actual evidence of wrongdoing.

 

House Oversight chair admits GOP can’t back up Biden bribery accusations

[Cameroni]

5 minutes ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

"The Washington Post" said no such thing. The link you gave is to an opinion piece by Jim Geraghty, who is National Review’s senior political correspondent. The National Review describes itself as a "Leading conservative magazine and website."

 

And the so-called evidence? Jim Geraghty writes that, "James Comer contends" that there is proof but tellingly, Comer himself has admitted that there is no actual evidence of wrongdoing.

 

House Oversight chair admits GOP can’t back up Biden bribery accusations

That's a complete misrepresentation of the article, which does indeed talk of the evidence for the numerous payments to Biden family members.

[Gobbler]

16 minutes ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

And the so-called evidence? Jim Geraghty writes that, "James Comer contends" that there is proof but tellingly, Comer himself has admitted that there is no actual evidence of wrongdoing.

The Check Copy from the bank looked real to me.