LOS ANGELES – Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to all charges on Thursday federal tax case against him, a surprise move that avoided a potentially embarrassing trial for the President Joe Bidenhis son
The verdict is scheduled for December 16.
A nine-count indictment in federal court in Los Angeles It came after prosecutors earlier in the day objected to an attempt to enter what’s known as an Alford plea, where a defendant pleads guilty because of the strength of the case against them while maintaining his innocence.
The younger Biden accepted what is known as an open plea, in which the defendant pleads guilty to all charges, leaving the sentencing decision up to the judge without an agreed recommendation from the defendants.
“Mr. Biden will agree that the elements of each offense are met,” Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, told the judge.
U.S. District Judge Mark C. Scarsi later swore in Biden to plead guilty. Prosecutor Leo Wise read the 56-page indictment in open court as part of the unusual plea process.
“Do you agree that you have committed each element of each count one through nine of the indictment?” the judge asked when the recitation was over. “Yes,” Biden replied before pleading guilty to each count.
Lowell told Scarsi that a ruling barring Biden from bringing up past traumas as a reason for his drug abuse in his defense case “influenced the decision that was best for him.”
Scarsi ruled that such information was irrelevant to the fact that Biden did not commit the crimes he was charged with.
Lowell told the judge the day before that Biden Jr. is seeking an Alford plea and “will agree that if he goes to trial, there is evidence to warrant a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Wise suggested that was not good enough, telling Scarci that such an appeal was “not in the public interest.” This is against the rule of law and we consider it unfair.”
“Hunter Biden is not innocent. Hunter Biden is guilty,” Wise said.
Dramatic developments occurred just before jury selection is expected Start with what Biden will be the second court this year. The president’s only surviving son, Hunter Biden, is the first child of a sitting president to face criminal charges.
The change of plea was not the result of an agreement with the government. “This is the first we’re hearing about this,” Wise told the judge Thursday.
Shortly after Lowell’s statement, the court adjourned to give prosecutors and Biden’s attorneys time to meet.
When they returned, Wise told the judge, “I want to make this very clear: The United States opposes an Alford plea.” He also asked the prosecutors for some time to discuss the next steps.
Lowell said he believed “the court is required to accept the plea” and that the details “could be worked out today.”
“I didn’t see anything that said I should take an Alford plea,” Scarsi said when he returned from recess. He said both sides are considering filing briefs outlining their legal arguments.
“I need a reason to accept or reject the plea,” said the judge.
Lowell later said his client would simply plead guilty to the charges against him.
The president ignored questions from reporters earlier in the day about the attempted change of pleading. He previously said he would not use his presidential power to pardon or commute his son’s sentence, and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Thursday that that is still his position. “Not yet,” he said.
Biden was 54 was charged in December he has three felony counts and six misdemeanor counts of allegedly failing to pay his taxes while under the influence of drugs and after becoming sober.
Claim caution Biden was expected to appear in open court, where prosecutors had more than two dozen witnesses, some of whom were expected to give embarrassing and derogatory testimony about Biden’s drug use and spending.
The indictment Biden pleaded guilty to four counts of evading and evading at least $1.4 million in self-assessed federal taxes owed for tax years from January 2017 through October 15, 2020, or approximately 2016 through 2019. said he engaged in an annual scheme to calculate taxes in or around February 2018 when he submitted false returns for the 2018 tax year.
The indictment says the money was spent on “drugs, escorts and girlfriends, luxury hotels and rentals, exotic cars, clothing and other personal items, in short, everything but his taxes.”
Prosecutors also alleged that the returns Biden eventually filed were fraudulent and falsely claimed business expenses he paid to an escort, a strip club, a sex club, a pornographic website, and his daughter’s college tuition and rent.
Earlier plea agreement Last year, a case with prosecutors over related charges in Delaware fell apart after a judge questioned some of the terms. Under the deal, Biden would plead guilty to tax crimes in exchange for a recommended sentence of six months of probation, while a felony charge of buying a gun while using drugs would be dismissed within two years if Biden stays out of legal trouble. .
US District Judge Maryellen Noreika refused to sign the agreement. “These agreements are not simple and they contain some atypical provisions,” Noreika said last year. One component of the deal would have shielded Biden from prosecution for other tax crimes.
Biden’s lawyers and prosecutors failed to reach a revised agreement, prompting special counsel David Weiss’ office to file charges against Biden. weapon is charged in Delaware and expanded tax payments in California.
Evidence of Biden’s addiction history was at the center of a separate case prosecuted by Weiss’ office in Delaware earlier this year. Biden was eventually convicted counts as three felonies it was related to possession of a weapon while using drugs.
He is due to be sentenced in the case on November 12 and has said he plans to appeal the verdict.