(Cupventi.com) – Hunter Biden made a surprise move on Thursday, pleading guilty to all the charges in the federal tax case against him, averting a trial that could have embarrassed both him and his father, President Joe Biden. The younger Biden had initially attempted to enter an Alford plea, which allows a defendant to plead guilty while maintaining their innocence due to the strength of the prosecution’s case. However, prosecutors objected, leading Biden to instead take what is known as an open plea. In this type of plea, he acknowledges the charges without an agreed sentencing recommendation from prosecutors.
“Mr. Biden will agree that the elements of each offense have been satisfied,” his attorney Abbe Lowell explained to the judge. Prosecutor Leo Wise, however, opposed the Alford plea, stating it was “not in the public interest” and calling the attempt to avoid a traditional guilty plea “an injustice.” He further emphasized, “Hunter Biden is not innocent. Hunter Biden is guilty.”
U.S. District Judge Mark C. Scarsi, presiding over the case, had also voiced concerns about accepting an Alford plea, citing a lack of precedence for doing so. Following a brief recess where both sides conferred, Hunter Biden’s team opted for an open plea, leaving his sentencing to the discretion of the judge.
The case, stemming from charges of tax evasion, centers around Biden’s failure to pay taxes on more than $1.4 million between 2016 and 2019. The indictment against him painted a damning picture of a man engulfed in addiction, spending lavishly on drugs, escorts, luxury accommodations, and personal items, while neglecting his tax obligations. According to prosecutors, his tax returns falsely listed personal expenses, such as payments to escorts and strip clubs, as business deductions.
This plea deal marks a significant shift from an earlier arrangement in Delaware, which had fallen apart last year. Under that prior deal, Biden would have pleaded guilty to misdemeanor tax offenses in exchange for probation, with a separate felony gun charge eventually dismissed. However, the presiding judge in that case, U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, declined to approve the deal, citing concerns over its terms. Since then, Biden has been indicted on both expanded tax charges in California and the aforementioned gun charge in Delaware.
Hunter Biden’s legal troubles have been ongoing and are far from over. He is also set to be sentenced on November 12 for his gun-related charges, stemming from his possession of a firearm while using narcotics. Biden has indicated his intent to appeal that conviction.
Despite the legal drama surrounding his son, President Joe Biden has maintained his stance that he will not interfere, declining to use his presidential powers to pardon or commute his son’s sentence. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated on Thursday that this position remains unchanged.
The plea deal spares Biden from a highly publicized trial that could have included testimony about his drug use and spending habits, but leaves his sentencing in the hands of the court. As of now, it remains unclear what punishment Hunter Biden will face.