The son of US President Joe Biden was convicted of gun violations in June. Hunter Biden is now trying to avoid another trial with an unusual legal remedy.
With a surprising legal move, US President's son Hunter Biden has attempted at the last minute to avert a trial against him for tax offenses. The son of US President Joe Biden appeared before the relevant court in Los Angeles, where the trial was due to begin today with jury selection.
Immediately before the start, however, the 54-year-old offered an unusual agreement with the judiciary through his lawyers, which might allow him to avoid the trial after all. This is reported by several US media outlets.
Acceptance of a conviction without Admission of guilt
Specifically, it is a judicial deal in which the defendant does not plead guilty in the classic sense, but at the same time acknowledges that the evidence in the case would probably lead to a guilty verdict.
After the move, the meeting was initially adjourned for consultations. The responsible judge would have to approve such an agreement. Hunter Biden had previously pleaded not guilty in the case.
Luxury life instead Tax payments
In December, he was charged with several tax offenses. The 54-year-old is accused of failing to pay federal taxes properly for several years. He is accused of spending millions on an extravagant lifestyle instead of paying his tax bills.
Hunter Biden only paid his taxes retrospectively. Specifically, it concerns the years 2016 to mid-October 2020 – i.e. shortly before Joe Biden was elected president. During this time, Hunter Biden recorded more than seven million US dollars in income, the indictment said. However, he decided at the time not to pay taxes, but to use the money for other things.
The meticulous listing of delicate expenses in the indictment, such as for sex clubs and “adult entertainment,” caused a great stir. Hunter Biden is likely very keen to ensure that such details are not made public in a trial.
Not the first criminal trial for Hunter Biden
In another criminal case, Hunter Biden was found guilty of illegal possession of weapons in June. He was accused of making false statements when purchasing a weapon in October 2018 and of concealing his drug addiction at the time.
He denied the allegations. The sentence is to be announced on November 13. Hunter Biden's negative headlines and legal problems also put political pressure on his father, Joe Biden.
