Hunter Biden pleads guilty to tax crimes, faces up to 42 years

The son of United States President Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, pleaded guilty on Thursday to nine charges related to failing to pay federal taxes, according to the newspaper the New York Times.

Hunter Biden informed his lawyers that he did not want to expose his family to further stress after the previous trial. He was accused in that trial of lying about drug use on a form related to obtaining permission to purchase and possess a firearm by someone who uses or is addicted to drugs. In June, he was found guilty in that trial.

According to the "NYT," with the president's son's guilty plea in the tax case, a once unthinkable scenario is now likely: Hunter Biden could be sentenced to a lengthy prison term.

Special prosecutor David Weiss, appointed to handle the Biden case, accused the president’s son of failing to pay at least $1.4 million in federal taxes from 2016 to 2019 while leading an "extravagant lifestyle."

As written by the "NYT," Hunter Biden attempted to finance his growing addiction to drugs and alcohol through tax crimes and leveraging his name to secure lucrative contracts abroad.

Initially, Hunter Biden’s lawyers and Weiss agreed in both cases to allow the president’s son to avoid prison. However, the judge overseeing the case rejected the agreement, and ultimately, the parties did not reach a consensus.

"Hunter Biden pleaded guilty on Thursday to nine federal tax charges in Los Angeles. This was a plea without a deal, a unilateral decision by defense lawyers persuaded they could not prevail in the trial," reports the "New York Times."

The president's son will remain free on bail until the sentencing, which is scheduled for mid-December.

Hunter Biden currently faces up to 17 years in prison or a fine of up to $1.3 million for tax crimes, and in addition, up to 25 years in prison for lying on the firearm application.