Hunter Biden was charged on Thursday with nine tax crimes – three felony counts and six misdemeanor counts – as federal prosecutors alleged that he spent money on a “lavish lifestyle” instead of paying taxes to the Internal Revenue Service, marking the latest legal trouble for the president’s son in addition to gun charges.
Key Facts
The charges allege that Biden “engaged in a scheme that lasted four years to not pay at least $1.4 million in federal taxes he owed” for the tax years between 2016 and 2019, as well as evading his 2018 tax assessment by filing false returns in February 2020.
Tax Charges
The charges also state that Biden “obstructed payroll and tax withholding processes” for a business entity he owns called Owasco by withdrawing millions from it, and that he “spent millions of dollars on a lavish lifestyle,” including $397,530 on clothing and accessories and $683,212 in payments to “various women” between 2016 and 2019, instead of paying his tax bills.
Gun Charges
Biden also faces gun-related charges in Delaware, where he was accused of two counts of making “false and fictitious written statements” on a firearm application, falsely declaring that he was not an illegal user of a controlled substance. He was also charged with possession of a firearm as an illegal user of a controlled substance.
Background
Biden has been under investigation since 2018 for potential violations of money laundering and tax evasion laws. Last November, congressional Republicans stated that their investigation into Biden’s foreign business dealings would be a “top priority” for 2023, aiming to link President Joe Biden to those dealings. Representative James Comer (Republican from Kentucky) stated that Republicans found evidence showing that the president “abused his public office to advance his family’s financial interests,” claiming the evidence could lead to federal charges against the president, including conspiracy to defraud the United States. Comer alleged that the evidence showed the president participated in “meetings and phone calls” and had “access to [his] office” as a business partner with his son. The president has stated that he did not speak with his son about his overseas business dealings, and there is no strong evidence that the president benefited from his son’s deals. Comer also accused Biden and his business partners of being involved in “human trafficking across borders.” In June, tax and firearm charges were filed against Biden. He had entered into a plea deal for the tax charges and sought to avoid the firearm charge by joining a diversion program, but the deal fell apart in July after prosecutors indicated that Biden might face additional charges due to the ongoing investigation. The misdemeanor tax charges were dismissed in August. Amid his legal troubles, Biden addressed his struggles with addiction, saying in an op-ed published in USA Today last November that “the politicization of addiction” made it harder for him and others grappling with addiction to recover.
What to Watch For
Biden could face up to 17 years in prison if convicted on the tax charges. The firearm charge carries a penalty of up to 25 years in prison and up to $750,000 in fines. Biden has stated that he has not pleaded guilty to the firearm charges and is expected to appear in court regarding those charges in 2024.
The Counter Response
Biden recently requested to subpoena former President Donald Trump and three Trump Justice Department officials in the firearm case, hoping that the evidence will show that the charges were politically motivated. Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, stated in a release shared with NBC News that if “his family name were not Biden, the charges would not have been filed in Delaware, and now in California.” Lowell also said, “All these matters will be handled in different courts now, the first of which will happen this Monday when prosecutors learn that our motions to dismiss their first batch of questionable charges will be filed.” NBC News acquired a letter from Lowell to David Weiss, appointed by Trump, who has been overseeing the federal investigation into Biden’s taxes, in which he requested a meeting to discuss Weiss’s investigation. Weiss was appointed as special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland in August, granting him expanded authority in his investigation into Biden.
Reading
Additional
9 Federal Tax Charges Filed Against Hunter Biden (Forbes)
Hunter Biden Indicted On Federal Gun Charges After Plea Deal Unraveled (Forbes)
Hunter Biden Plea Deal Unravels As He Pleads Not Guilty (Forbes)
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Brittany Nguyen
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