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CV NEWS FEED // Hunter Biden agreed to plead guilty to multiple counts of tax fraud and illegal gun-possession, contradicting President Joe Biden’s recent assurance that he was “confident” his son was innocent.
Hunter Biden “received taxable income in excess of $1,500,000 annually in calendar years 2017 and 2018,” U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware David C. Weiss stated.
“Despite owing in excess of $100,000 in federal income taxes each year, he did not pay the income tax due for either year,” Weiss’ office reported:
According to the firearm Information, from on or about October 12, 2018 through October 23, 2018, Hunter Biden possessed a firearm despite knowing he was an unlawful user of and addicted to a controlled substance.
Hunter Biden has been under federal investigation since 2018. The investigation began amid a variety of “Suspicious Activity Reports” (SARs) surrounding his dealings with China and other foreign nations.
“The firearms charge stemmed from allegations that Hunter Biden lied during a gun purchase in 2018,” Fox News reported. Upon purchasing the gun, Hunter Biden denied that he was “an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance.” He had been discharged from the Navy in 2014 due to his use of cocaine.
“Hunter Biden faces a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison on each of the tax charges – a total of two years,” Fox reported. “There is a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the firearm charge for which he agreed to a pretrial diversion program.”
A pretrial diversion program, according to the Department of Justice website, can “divert certain offenders from traditional criminal justice processing into alternative systems of supervision and service….” Those who successfully complete diversion programs can see “declination of charges, dismissal or reduction of charges, or a more favorable recommendation at sentencing.”
President Biden has always insisted on his son’s innocence.
“First of all my son has done nothing wrong, I trust him, I have faith in him, and it impacts my presidency by making me feel proud of him,” Biden said in a May interview. The president also called his son “the smartest guy I know.”
When news of the plea broke on Tuesday, the White House released a more subdued statement.
“The President and first lady love their son and support him as he continues to rebuild his life. We will have no further comment.”
