Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges and Judge Mark Scarsi accepted the plea, multiple outlets reported Thursday—avoiding a second criminal trial.
The plea would avoid a second criminal trial for Biden, who was convicted on federal gun charges ... [+]
Biden pleaded guilty to the nine charges and admitted the elements of each offense had been satisfied, multiple outlets reported Thursday afternoon.
He previously pleaded not guilty to three felony charges and six misdemeanor charges alleging he failed to pay $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019 and instead spent millions on an “extravagant lifestyle.”
As part of Hunter Biden’s guilty plea, he will accept whatever sentence is handed down by Scarsi.
Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here.
Biden’s sentencing. It is scheduled for Dec. 16, and the prosecution did not object to the date. Biden faces a maximum sentence of 17 years in prison or a fine of $1.3 million for these charges, The New York Times reported.
Hunter Biden agreed to a plea deal last year that would have involved him pleading guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges. As part of his plea agreement, he would plead guilty to the two charges and enter a diversion program. That deal fell through in July 2022, after a disagreement between Hunter Biden’s lawyers and prosecutors over whether he would be immune from additional charges. The misdemeanors were dismissed last August before his indictment in December.
The Internal Revenue Service began investigating Hunter Biden’s taxes in 2018. Special prosecutor David Weiss alleges Hunter Biden schemed to avoid paying more than $1.4 million in taxes, despite earning more than $7 million in “gross total income” between 2016 and 2020. The indictment alleges Hunter Biden “willfully failed” to file his tax returns for 2017 and 2018 on time and had false business deductions on his 2018 return so he could reduce the “substantial” tax liabilities as of February 2020. Hunter Biden’s lawyers argued he failed to pay his taxes because of his alcohol and cocaine addictions, which he has openly discussed. The trial was also expected to include Hunter Biden’s income from foreign business deals, which have long been criticized by House Republicans.
Hunter Biden was convicted in June of three felonies for unlawfully purchasing a gun while addicted to drugs in 2018. He will be sentenced on Nov. 13 and faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and up to $750,000 in fines, though he will likely avoid a maximum penalty.
CORRECTION (9/5): This story has been updated to note Hunter Biden’s decision Thursday was to plead guilty.