Benzinga - by Michael Cohen, Benzinga Editor.
Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden's son, has been indicted on nine tax-related charges in California. This development intensifies as scrutiny of his business activities increases, casting a shadow over the political landscape leading up to the 2024 presidential election.
The charges, filed on Thursday, include three felonies and six misdemeanors, the Associated Press reported. These are in addition to the federal firearms charges in Delaware, where Hunter Biden is accused of violating laws against drug users possessing guns in 2018.
The emergence of these charges follows the collapse of a plea deal earlier this year, which could have averted jail time for Hunter Biden. With the deal off the table, the case is now potentially heading to trial during his father's reelection campaign, the AP reported.
Special Counsel David Weiss stated Hunter Biden spent millions on a lavish lifestyle instead of settling his tax obligations. The focus of these charges is on unpaid taxes amounting to at least $1.4 million between 2016 and 2019, a period marked by Biden's struggle with addiction, which intensified following the death of his brother Beau Biden in 2015. It's noted that these back taxes have since been paid.
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If convicted, the 53-year-old Hunter Biden could face up to 17 years in prison. Weiss confirmed the special counsel investigation remains active.
In response, Hunter Biden's defense attorney, Abbe Lowell, sharply criticized the charges, suggesting political motivations. Lowell argued that if Hunter Biden had a different last name, the charges in both Delaware and California would not have been pursued.
The White House has refrained from commenting on the indictment, directing inquiries to the Justice Department or Hunter Biden's representatives.
As the case progresses, Hunter Biden's defense team is preparing to contest the new charges, potentially leveraging immunity provisions from the original plea deal, according to the AP.
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This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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