Hunter Biden indicted on nine tax charges, adding to gun charges in special counsel probe

Hunter Biden was indicted on nine tax charges in California on Thursday as an investigation into the Business dealings of President Joe Biden’s son continues amidst the 2024 Election. The new charges, which include three felonies and six misdemeanors, are in addition to the federal firearms charges in Delaware that allege Hunter Biden broke laws against drug users having guns in 2018. Special counsel David Weiss stated, “Hunter Biden spent millions of dollars on an extravagant lifestyle rather than paying his tax bills.”

If convicted, Hunter Biden could face up to 17 years in prison, as the special counsel probe remains open. Defense attorney, Abbe Lowell, accused Weiss of “bowing to Republican pressure” and claimed that Hunter Biden’s last name led to the charges in Delaware and California. The White House declined to comment on the indictment, referring questions to the Justice Department or Hunter Biden’s personal representatives.

The indictment in California details Hunter Biden’s spending on items from drugs and girlfriends to luxury hotels and exotic cars, and is seen as a response to the impeachment inquiry into President Biden. No evidence has emerged so far to prove that Biden abused his role or accepted bribes, but questions have arisen about his family’s international Business dealings.

The investigation into Hunter Biden’s finances has been ongoing since 2018, with the most recent plea deal over the summer being criticized by Republicans. The plea deal that Hunter Biden had planned to strike with prosecutors ultimately fell through, leading to the new charges. The agreement also contained immunity provisions, and defense attorneys have argued that they remain in force since that part of the agreement was signed by a prosecutor before the deal was scrapped.

Moreover, the defense made plans to push for dismissal of the federal gun charges, which they find to be “unprecedented and unconstitutional.” Hunter Biden’s longstanding struggle with substance abuse worsened after his brother Beau Biden’s death in 2015, as he made “substantial income” in 2017 and 2018 from Business and consulting fees but did not pay his taxes on a total of about $4 million in personal income during that period.

Although Hunter Biden eventually filed his taxes in 2020 and the back taxes were paid by a “third party” the following year, the investigation into his Business dealings has intensified as the 2024 Election looms.