Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, has been formally charged with nine tax-related offenses, including three felonies, in a federal court in Los Angeles.
The detailed 56-page document accuses Hunter Biden of evading tax payments, failing to file tax returns, and submitting fraudulent forms, with allegations of him preferring an extravagant lifestyle over meeting his tax responsibilities.
The charges, comprising six misdemeanors and three felonies, were initiated by Special Counsel David Weiss, a Trump-era appointee.
The indictment details Hunter Biden’s alleged misuse of funds for personal extravagance between 2016 and October 2020, including expenditures on luxury items and personal pleasures, while neglecting his tax duties.
Hunter Biden could face a maximum sentence of 17 years in prison if convicted.
The indictment highlights Hunter Biden’s failure to pay over $1.4 million in federal taxes from 2016 to 2019 and his efforts to evade tax assessment in 2018 by filing false returns.
Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, responded to the charges and criticized the indictment’s basis, suggesting that it might not have been pursued if Hunter Biden bore a different surname.
Lowell said, “I wrote U.S. Attorney Weiss days ago seeking a customary meeting to discuss this investigation. The response was media leaks today that these charges were being filed.”
He noted that Hunter Biden had settled his tax liabilities over two years ago.
The White House has not commented on the indictment, overseen by Judge Mark Scarsi, another Trump appointee.
The charges do not directly involve President Biden or his past tenure as Vice President.
The charges scrutinize Hunter Biden’s financial transactions, highlighting alleged misrepresentations and misuse of funds under the guise of business expenses.
This indictment intensifies the federal investigation into Hunter Biden, which has become a focal point for Republican lawmakers.
House Republicans have even subpoenaed Hunter Biden, with his legal team indicating his willingness to testify publicly before the House Oversight Committee.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, a Republican from Missouri, commented the new charges “further confirm the need for Congress to move forward with an impeachment inquiry of Joe Biden in order to uncover all the facts for the American people to judge.”
Next week, the House may schedule a vote to officially approve the impeachment inquiry led by the Republicans against the president.
The charges also align with claims made by two IRS whistleblowers, Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, who accused the Justice Department of attempting to offer Hunter Biden a favorable plea deal.
These whistleblowers have hailed the indictment as a vindication of their efforts to ensure legal equality.
In July, Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to federal tax charges after a plea deal fell through. Some legal experts have noted that such tax-related charges are infrequently prosecuted, especially for first-time offenders.
The new indictment against Hunter Biden, alleging tax evasion and fraudulent financial practices, may set the stage for a significant court battle in parallel with the 2024 presidential campaign.
This legal development occurs as the Democratic Party aims to shift the public’s focus towards the pending trials of former President Donald Trump.
Trump is currently entangled in multiple legal challenges, with two federal cases poised to go to trial next year. Additionally, he faces trials in New York and Georgia, with no start date yet.
