Hunter Biden, the son of the current US President Joe Biden, is set to admit guilt to two minor tax-related offenses and confess to unlawfully having a firearm while being a drug user, following a five-year long investigation.
Plea agreement papers have been filed by the US Attorney in Delaware, indicating a resolution has been reached. The agreement’s conditions will likely spare him from imprisonment.
High-ranking Republicans have labeled this as a demonstration of a “two-tiered system of justice”.
Theoretically, the president’s son may face a maximum sentence of one year in jail for each of the tax offenses and a decade for the gun offense, the justice department articulated in an announcement.
Hunter Biden is likely to consent to drug rehabilitation and supervision as a component of the suggested arrangement.
The finalized agreement needs the judge’s endorsement, who will also decide the sentence.
The timeline for Hunter Biden’s court appearance to submit his guilty plea for the tax offenses remains uncertain.
He will acknowledge felony gun possession under a “pre-trial diversion agreement”, separate from the plea deal, his attorney Chris Clark stated in an announcement.
“I know Hunter believes it is important to take responsibility for these mistakes he made during a period of turmoil and addiction in his life,” said Mr. Clark. “He looks forward to continuing his recovery and moving forward.”
Mr. Clark informed MSNBC that the probation terms of his client were “up to to the court”, but anticipated Hunter Biden’s release without conditions following his court attendance.
“I think the judge is going to do what’s fair and I think what’s fair is my client gets on with his life,” Clark expressed.
Hunter Biden, aged 53, has a professional history as a lawyer and lobbyist, including overseas stints in China and Ukraine. The US Navy discharged him in 2014 after a positive cocaine test.
The plea agreement concludes a lengthy justice department probe into whether his income was correctly reported and false information was given on a firearm purchase form in 2018.
The two minor tax charges arose from failing to pay over $100,000 (£78,000) in taxes for the years 2017 and 2018.
An ex-justice department official informed CBS that these sums would typically result in misdemeanour charges, but were “in the jail time range”.
The firearm charge originates from 2018, when he was in possession of a gun while using drugs.
In a 2021 publication, the younger Biden confessed to substantial use of crack cocaine during that period.
He allegedly lied on a federal form by answering “no” to whether he was a user of illegal drugs. False information on these forms can result in imprisonment.
The agreement arises as some Republican politicians and presidential candidates have accused Joe Biden of “weaponising” the justice department against political rivals.
Hunter Biden has consistently been a focus for conservatives, who claim his foreign transactions imply a consistent corruption trend.
The plea agreement sparked immediate, intense criticism from Donald Trump, his campaign, and senior congressional Republicans.
Karoline Leavitt, a representative for the pro-Trump Make America Great Again Inc, labeled the agreement a “sweetheart deal” that permits the justice department to “turn a blind eye” to corruption. Mr. Trump deemed the deal as a “mere traffic ticket”.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy told reporters that the deal evidences a “two-tier” justice system and will aid a separate Republican investigation into Hunter Biden.
Prominent Democrats, including former right-wing journalist turned activist David Brock, remain mostly silent, with Brock suggesting the case should now be closed.
The White House offered brief support for Hunter, saying that the Bidens “love their son and support him as he continues to rebuild his life”, adding that they wouldn’t comment further.
Despite detailing a life plagued by “massive drug addiction”, the younger Biden consistently denied participating in unlawful activities.
He initially acknowledged awareness of the investigation into him in December 2020.
In a previous statement, he conveyed “confidence” in his legal conduct, supported by professional tax advisors. Although his attorney, Mr. Clark, considered the investigation “resolved”, the justice department maintains it is “ongoing”.
