Hunter Biden pleads guilty to federal tax crimes, avoids gun prosecution
Hunter Biden, son of President Biden, has agreed to plead guilty to federal tax evasion charges, and will likely avoid prosecution for having illegally purchased a gun while addicted to a controlled substance, the Justice Department disclosed on Tuesday. Biden's agreement, while still subject to approval from a federal judge, is a sign "that the five-year investigation into Hunter is resolved," his attorney Christopher Clark said in a statement.
Biden's addiction to crack cocaine, as well as his various financial ventures, have been the focus of a longstanding inquiry on the part of both federal prosecutors, as well as Republican lawmakers eager to capitalize on any insinuation of criminality on the part of the first family. On his Truth Social platform, former President Donald Trump raged against the reported deal, alleging that "the corrupt Biden DOJ just cleared up hundreds of years of criminal liability by giving Hunter Biden a mere 'traffic ticket.'" House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) on Twitter claimed Tuesday's announcement would have no impact on his committee's questionable investigation into the Biden's alleged criminality, vowing he will "not rest until the full extent of President Biden's involvement in the family's schemes are revealed."
GOP Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee similarly insinuated without evidence that Tuesday's announcement was the result of nefarious meddling by the president:
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The White House has offered a brief statement in support of Biden, affirming that "the President and First Lady love their son and support him as he continues to rebuild his life."
According to Biden's attorney, the agreement made between Hunter and U.S. Attorney David Weiss, a Trump appointee, means that Biden will "take responsibility for two instances of misdemeanor failure to file tax payments" alongside a separate forthcoming arrangement over his having illegally purchased a gun while addicted to crack cocaine.
"Hunter believes it is important to take responsibility for these mistakes he made during a period of turmoil and addiction in his life," Clark added. "He looks forward to continuing his recovery and moving forward."
-
The environmental cost of GLP-1sThe explainer Producing the drugs is a dirty process
-
Greenland’s capital becomes ground zero for the country’s diplomatic straitsIN THE SPOTLIGHT A flurry of new consular activity in Nuuk shows how important Greenland has become to Europeans’ anxiety about American imperialism
-
‘This is something that happens all too often’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
House votes to end Trump’s Canada tariffsSpeed Read Six Republicans joined with Democrats to repeal the president’s tariffs
-
Bondi, Democrats clash over Epstein in hearingSpeed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi ignored survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and demanded that Democrats apologize to Trump
-
El Paso airspace closure tied to FAA-Pentagon standoffSpeed Read The closure in the Texas border city stemmed from disagreements between the Federal Aviation Administration and Pentagon officials over drone-related tests
-
Judge blocks Trump suit for Michigan voter rollsSpeed Read A Trump-appointed federal judge rejected the administration’s demand for voters’ personal data
-
US to send 200 troops to Nigeria to train armySpeed Read Trump has accused the West African government of failing to protect Christians from terrorist attacks
-
Grand jury rejects charging 6 Democrats for ‘orders’ videoSpeed Read The jury refused to indict Democratic lawmakers for a video in which they urged military members to resist illegal orders
-
Judge rejects California’s ICE mask ban, OKs ID lawSpeed Read Federal law enforcement agents can wear masks but must display clear identification
-
Lawmakers say Epstein files implicate 6 more menSpeed Read The Trump department apparently blacked out the names of several people who should have been identified
